Panda Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma nijsseni
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3.9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
Species profile
Mendezi Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma mendezi
Common names: Mendezi Dwarf Cichlid
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 5 cm
Up to 5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A small, well-kept nano tank
- A mature, stable aquarium
Think carefully if
- Your tap water is hard and you do not want to treat it
- Your tank is newly set up
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A dwarf cichlid from blackwater tributaries of the lower Rio Negro, with striking colour on the male. Keep alone or in a small group in 40 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A dwarf cichlid from blackwater tributaries of the lower Rio Negro, with striking colour on the male. It needs very soft, acidic water.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Males are larger and more colourful, with longer fins. Females turn bright yellow when guarding young in many species.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 80–120 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 45 cm
- Minimum group size
- 2
- Recommended group size
- 2
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Use leaf litter, wood and small caves in a mature, planted tank, with gentle filtration. Each female needs a cave of her own.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A small, busy cichlid that stays near the bottom and shows real personality, especially when guarding young.
Often kept as a pair, or as one male with two or more females in a larger tank.
Territorial near the bottom, particularly females with young.
Best with small, peaceful fish that stay higher in the water, such as small tetras and pencilfish. Avoid other bottom-dwelling cichlids in smaller tanks. It is likely to eat shrimp. Choose its tankmates with care.
Water Parameters
Needs soft, acidic water.
Parameter caveat
Add this fish only to a mature, fully cycled tank, and keep up regular water changes.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Insectivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Small flake or micro pelletsA good staple. Feed small amounts that are eaten within a couple of minutes.
- Frozen or live daphnia and brine shrimpOffer a few times a week for colour and condition.
- Small bloodwormA rich treat rather than a daily food.
Prefers small live and frozen foods, and many also accept small pellets.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Cave Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Moderate
- Parental care
- Variable
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpThe fry can usually take this from the start.
- Crushed flakeA simple addition as they grow.
Spawns inside a cave, and one parent guards the eggs and young. Provide a suitable cave for each pair.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Brazil, South America
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater
- Aquarium contexts
- Nano Aquarium, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Apistogramma
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Dwarf Cichlids, Fish
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Apistogramma hongsloi
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 23–29 °C
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- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3.4 cm
- Minimum tank
- 54 litres
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
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Apistogramma trifasciata
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 3.8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 litres
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C