Double Red Apisto

Native to slow-moving forest streams and tributaries of the Amazon River Basin, from Peru through Brazil, in waters ranging from clear to blackwater, often thick with leaf litter and submerged branches.

Recreate a soft, leaf-litter-strewn Amazonian stream: sandy substrate, driftwood, rock formations, and dense planting for territory boundaries and cover. Include multiple caves for females, plus open swimming space for the male. Subdued lighting helps replicate their natural blackwater/whitewater habitat.

Carnivorous. Offer a variety of high-quality frozen and live meaty foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia, along with quality sinking pellets formulated for cichlids. A varied diet is key to bringing out their best coloration.

Not recommended with dwarf shrimp. As a carnivorous cichlid, Apistogramma agassizii will actively hunt and eat small shrimp and shrimplets. Larger, more established shrimp colonies in a heavily planted tank may see some survivors, but breeding shrimp alongside this fish is unreliable.

A harem breeder by nature one male is best kept with two or more females rather than a single pair, as single-pair setups can result in the male harassing the female. Provide multiple caves (clay pots, coconut shells, driftwood crevices) spaced throughout the tank so each female can claim her own territory. Soft, slightly acidic water and a varied, protein-rich diet help condition breeding pairs. Females lay eggs inside a cave and guard them fiercely, developing intensified yellow and black coloration during this time; males patrol the wider territory.

Shipped live in insulated boxes with heat/cold packs as needed, bagged with pure oxygen.