King Dwarf Cichlid

1 King Dwarf Cichlid Species Profile

The King Dwarf Cichlid has a golden-yellow body, but unlike other dwarf cichlids it is not richly colored; still, its distinctive golden hue attracts many enthusiasts. It prefers soft water, so water quality requires attention in captivity.

Binomial: Apistogramma tucurui

Distribution: Tocantins River basin in eastern Brazil, Tucurui

Temperature: 26 to 28 C

pH: 6 to 7

2 King Dwarf Cichlid Appearance

The King Dwarf Cichlid is not difficult to keep, and it is one of the more commonly kept and widely popular dwarf cichlids. Although its body color is not bright and varied, it is still very popular among aquarists—so what are its distinctive features?

The King Dwarf Cichlid has a golden-yellow body with a bluish sheen at the rear of the fins. Although not as colorful as some dwarf cichlids, its overall golden-orange tone is striking, and its net-like body pattern is unique and elegant. Its shape resembles that of a lyretail, but it has neither a high dorsal fin nor a flowing caudal fin.

3 King Dwarf Cichlid Habitat and Care

The King Dwarf Cichlid is not difficult to keep, but it has certain water-quality requirements; with stable water, keeping it becomes easy. The recommended temperature is 24 to 27 C, using weakly acidic soft water. How should the dwarf cichlid tank be set up?

1. After buying driftwood, disinfect it by soaking it in a diluted potassium permanganate solution for about 40 minutes to kill bacteria and parasites on the surface, then dry it in the sun. Follow the instructions on the potassium permanganate package for the exact concentration. Copper sulfate and malachite green are not recommended. If you unfortunately buy ‘driftwood’ that will not sink, soak it in hot water for 24 to 72 hours; if it still will not sink, there is a last resort—the microwave method. Place the driftwood in the microwave and heat on medium for 2 to 3 minutes to carbonize it as much as possible. If it still will not sink, microwave it again, and so on. But do not heat it for too long to avoid fire. If all else fails, fix the driftwood in the aquarium and wait—most pieces will eventually sink.

2. After the driftwood has been in the water for a while, it will tint the water coffee-brown. This is normal. Some say driftwood slowly releases acidic substances that lower pH, but in my experience this seems unfounded—it cannot be measured at all. The coffee-colored water, however, resembles the water color of the dwarf cichlid’s native habitat and helps reduce stress. If you dislike the staining or it is severe, you can soak the driftwood in boiling water for a long time or simply boil it, though the effect is not ideal.

3. Soak the clay pots in room-temperature water before placing them in the aquarium. Because they are fired clay, like red bricks, placing them directly into the tank may cause them to crack. Pre-soaking lets the pots absorb water (no more bubbles rising), so they will not crack when put in the tank.

4. It is necessary to place (moderately dense) aquatic plants in the tank; both adults and juveniles show a clearly better condition in a planted tank than in a bare one. Fish in tanks without plants often show dull coloration and timidity. Keep this firmly in mind.

4 King Dwarf Cichlid Feeding

The King Dwarf Cichlid is a carnivorous ornamental fish but will also accept artificial foods. In captivity it can be trained to eat prepared feeds; if you prefer live food, pay attention to disinfecting and cleaning it.

Generally, food bought from outside should be rinsed under tap water before feeding to reduce clouding the water. Frozen bloodworms are also a good choice—just check when buying and be careful not to buy dyed ones. There is a very wide choice of prepared foods on the market. You can choose according to your preference and budget; good-quality micro-pellets for small fish, such as those from Dennerle or JBL, are excellent for dwarf cichlids.