Description

*Actual stockmay vary from picture, and sexual maturity. Picture is of mature individual

Classification:
Order:Perciformes
Family:Cichlidae

Distribution:
Thelectotypeoriginates from Lake Manacapuru in Amazonas state, northwestern Brazil, just upstream from the city of Manaus and fed by the main Amazonriverchannel.

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 Size:
Basedimensions of60 x 30cmor more are acceptable for a singlepairwith a group requiring larger quarters.It is advised to find a filter which has a water flow between 4-5 times the volume of your aquarium.

Maintenance:
Provided adequate cover and structure is available thisspeciesis unfussy with regards to dcor with ceramic flowerpots, lengths of plastic piping and other artificial materials all useful additions. A more natural-looking arrangement might consist of a soft, sandysubstratewith wood roots and branches placed such a way that plenty of shady spots and caves are formed.

The addition of dried leaf litter (beech, oak or Ketapang almond leaves are all suitable) would further emphasise the natural feel and with it bring the growth of beneficial microbe colonies asdecompositionoccurs. These can provide a valuable secondary food source forfry, whilst most populations will appreciate the tannins and other chemicals released by the decaying leaves. Leaves can be left in thetankto break down fully or removed and replaced every few weeks. If maintaining ablackwaterpopulationa net bag filled withaquarium-safepeatcan also be added to thefilteror suspended over the edge of thetank.

Fairly dim lighting is recommended and plantspeciesfromgenerasuch asMicrosorum,Taxiphyllum,CryptocoryneandAnubiasare arguably best since they will grow under such conditions. A few patches of floating vegetation to diffuse the light even further may also prove effective. Filtration, or at least water flow, should not be very strong and very large water changes are best avoided with 10-15% weekly adequate provided thetankis lightly-stocked.

Water Conditions:
Temperature:22 29C
pH:Commercially-produced fish are relatively unfussy but some wild populations may require a value as low as 3.0 4.0 in order to breed.
Hardness:0 179 ppm, again somewhat dependant on origin, with wild fishes more likelt to require negligible to low values.

Diet:
Primarilycarnivorousand apparently feeds mostly onbenthicinvertebrates in nature. In theaquariumlive and frozen foods such asArtemia,Daphniaandchironomidlarvae(bloodworm) should be offered regularly although most specimens will also learn to accept dried alternatives with pelleted products generally preferred to flake.Click on the following links to search for high quality live, frozen and dry food:Bloodworm,Artemia,Daphnia.

Behaviour and Compatibility:
Captive-raised fish are the recommended choice for the generalcommunity aquarium. Wild examples are best maintained alone or with small dither fishes such asNannostomusspp., and ideally should not be mixed with otherApistogramma.

Sexual Dimorphism:
Males are larger, more colourful and develop more extended fins than females.

Reproduction:
Substratespawner which normally lays its eggs in crevices or cavities among the dcor. The female is responsible for post-spawningcare of eggs andfry. The female is responsible for post-spawningcare of eggs andfryand in smaller aquaria the male may need to be removed as she may become hyper-aggressive.