Clown Dwarf Cichlid

1 Breed Introduction

The Clown Dwarf Cichlid is often imported mixed with the Cockatoo and Agassiz’s dwarf cichlids. It is distinctive for a black vertical stripe on the body and red-blue speckles on the gill cover. Because imports are scarce, it is not widely kept.

Chinese name: Clown Dwarf Cichlid

English name: unknown

Binomial: Apistogramma staecki

Water temperature: 24 to 26 C

Water quality: weakly acidic soft water, pH 6.5; 6 to 8 dH

Distribution: Manaus and Santarem basins of the Amazon River

Breeding: cave spawner

2 Physical Characteristics

It is usually imported mixed with the Cockatoo and Agassiz’s dwarf cichlids, so fans may confuse it; let us clarify.

It has a black vertical stripe on the body and red-blue speckles on the gill cover; the dorsal has 6 to 7 spines; the caudal is finely netted; the form is graceful but imports are scarce. Its temper is gentle and it can mix with other peaceful fish.

3 Housing and Environment

Not hard to keep; since it comes from the Amazon’s Manaus and Santarem basins, mimic wild water conditions.

Gentle, likes weakly acidic soft water, carnivorous, preferring small live foods. Easy to keep and breed; it is a cave spawner liking weakly acidic soft water. Recommended 24 to 26 C, pH 6.5.

4 Feeding

It is omnivorous, taking both prepared and live food, but some individuals refuse prepared food and need training.

It is omnivorous and likes almost any food it can swallow; a healthy one eats readily. It accepts prepared food. Besides brine shrimp, what else? Once fry exceed 2 cm, more foods work: live blackworms, fresh bloodworms, etc. For prepared food, good-quality fine micro-pellets for small fish are fine.