Apistogramma Agassizi Double Red Male

Apistogramma Agassizii Double Red: Delighfully small yet colourful freshwater fishes

 

Apistogramma Agassizii is one of the most popular in the Apitogramma family, and it’s not difficult to see why. The double red for its two very distinguishing, and red, fins.
These small cichlids are so easy to manage, even for the most inexperienced hobbyists! In addition, they only grow up to 3 inches maximum in length, which makes them much more manageable than other larger species.

The males are larger, growing to 9cm in length, while females only reach about 6 cm. They have been known for forming mating pairs with other species of cichlids that share their environments, such as the convict tangs and angelfish. Having shared habitats since they both originate from South America, they get along very well! It is always best to have community tanks organised by Geographical biotope to see unique behaviours and lower conflict & disease.

The color of an Agassizii depends on where it was caught, or it’s breeding. Also, the male is more colorful than the female.

You may notice a difference between Agassizii double reds photos online. Captive-bred strains tend to be not nearly as colorful and patterned. However, they are less sensitive to water quality changes than wild catches.

Breeders will often crossbreed two types of Agassizii together – this also helps keep both lines healthy over time.  At Nano Tanks Australia, we recommend housing a robust as possible fish until you are truly an expert in forming aquarium environments and systems.

Scientific Name: Apistogramma Agassizii
Social Grouping: Harems
IUCN Red List: NE – Not Evaluated or not listed

 

Tanks Mates

 

This cichlid is a great fish for community tanks and can be kept with other non-cichlids.
Their tank mates should not be aggressive since this will lead to unnecessary aggression and stress among the many residents of your aquariums. Also, provide the aquatic denizens with ample safe space by using fine dark sand as the substrate and placing rocks around to create big enough caves ( especially for the Agassizii female’s territory.)
These fish love densely planted aquariums, so make sure you place some plants throughout – floating ones work well because they help diffuse lighting from above, making viewing easier on their eyesight.

 

History

 

Named after the famous Swiss-American naturalist Louis Agassiz, Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma Agassizii is found in tropical waters of South America. The coloration and patterning depend on where it was born–the Amazon River basin to Peru or anywhere between the Capim River Basin to Brazil’s Rio Negro region. It has not been given a conservation status yet but has many common names, including: “Agassi cichlid,” “The Agassis Apisto” and even just called an “Apito” by some locals.
These cichlids are polygamous and form harems of a dominant male with multiple females. They inhabit clear, black, and white waters that can be still or slow-moving such as tributaries, backwaters, and creeks where there is leaf litter on the ground. They feed mainly off benthic invertebrates, which depend on the time of year for type preference.

 

Description

 

A shiny gold-colored mark appears over their eyes, and an orangey squiggle shows up at either end of their dorsal fins alongside many sharp points that extend outwards like needles – one for each vertebra.
The caudal (tail) has thin lines going across them, alternating between white, light blue to blue, and comes to a point at the end.

These fish are known for their variety of colors and shapes and a plethora of adaptations that help them survive. For example, some cichlids have developed pharyngeal teeth in addition to regular teeth. In contrast, others have spiny rays on the back parts of fins to discourage predators from attacking them without consequence.

Cichlids are one of the few fish species that have a single nostril on each side. This adaptation is specialized for underwater smelling and sampling, as they suck in water from their surroundings to analyze it before expelling it back out again. Cichlids share this trait with saltwater damselfish, suggesting these two groupings may be closely related to evolutionarily speaking!

These fish are known for their long life span. They can live up to 12 years in captivity but have been reported living as long as 5 years on average.

 

Fish Keeping Difficulty

 

This fish is a great choice for intermediate cichlid keepers who have some experience keeping these types of fish. They are on the smaller side and will not aggressively attack other fish, making them less stressful to maintain than many larger species.

 

Diet

 

The Agassizi Cichlid is a flexible eater in the wild, but they are primarily carnivores. In an aquarium setting, you can feed them newly hatched baby brine shrimp or frozen adult Brine Shrimp along with crustaceans and insects to reap the benefits of their omnivorous diet. Feed 2-5 small pinches of food per day rather than one large meal to not increase your ammonia levels which will ultimately lead to lowered water quality over time. All fish benefit from vitamins and supplements added into their foods for optimum health!

 

Aquarium Care

 

The water in your fish tank is a precious resource that must be maintained properly to keep nitrate levels low. Doing so will keep the living space clean and healthy without any harmful bacteria or disease from a stressed biome, which could lead to death for your beloved pets. Maintain this balance by performing weekly 10% – 20% water changes with fresh tap water treated with chlorine/chloramines (most municipal waters are disinfected).

Clean the debris off of the viewing pane before cleaning as it can cloud the panes if left unchecked; use an aquarium vacuum hose at least once per week during routine maintenance sessions. When filling up, new tanks make sure you treat replacement fresh water on top of adjusting temperatures accordingly.

 

Aquarium Size

 

Apistogrammi are tropical fish that need water with a pH of acidic to neutral and soft water; oxygen levels must also be maintained for the best color and health. Therefore, a mature & cycled aquarium is necessary: they should have 100 litre tanks minimum. The tank needs good efficient filtration, slow-moving waters, along with an appropriate cover like low lighting, so it does not stress out their colors too much or deprive them of life-giving nutrients needed to thrive in captivity.