Apistogramma agassizii (STEINDACHNER, 1875)

Agassizi's Dwarf Cichlid

Classification

Order: Perciformes Family: CichlidaeDistribution

The lectotype originates from Lake Manacapurú in Amazonas state, northwestern Brazil, just upstream from the city of Manaus and fed by the main Amazon river channel. The remainder of the type series was collected variously from the municipality of Codajás (Amazonas state), Curupira, near Barcelos municipality (Amazonas), Lake Maximo near Parintins city (Amazonas) and the rio Poti, a tributary of the rio Parnaíba (Piauí state).

It’s currently-accepted to range throughout much of the Amazon/Solimões basin from its upper section in the Río Ucayali, Peru and into Brazil with the Capim River, a tributary of the rio Guamá which flows into the rio Pará at the city of Belém in the Amazon delta region, representing its eastern limit. Body colouration and patterning can vary considerably with locality.

Habitat

Tends to inhabit slower-moving tributaries, backwaters and creeks in areas where fallen leaf litter collects and these may contain black, white or clear water depending on locality or in some cases, time of year.

Maximum Standard Length

Male: 7.5 cm Female: 5 cm

Aquarium SizeTOP ↑

Base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30 cm or more are acceptable for a single pair with a group requiring larger quarters.