SOUTH AMERICAN CICHLIDS.
Order Perciformes
Family Cichlidae
Subfamily ( Geophaginae )
To be continued…
Genus Apistogramma.
— Apistogramma hoignei [Meinken, 1965] — (A 118). (Eng. Highfin Dwarf Cichlid, Apisto). Northwestern Venezuela, Orinoco River basin, upper Portuguesa, Apure, Caura, Arauca. 6 cm, females are smaller. These fish are highly variable from different habitats in body height, length, and height of the caudal peduncle. Males are larger and have elongated dorsal and anal fins. The main body color is yellow-olive, with a characteristic pattern on the head with black spots around the eyes and gills. In the male, the caudal fin is black-red in the upper and lower parts. Pelvic fins are yellow and strongly elongated.
Females do not have elongated fins, gray with a yellow tint, during spawning and fry care they are intensely yellow with characteristic black spots. Currently, two forms of A. hoignei are described: — A 116 – A. hoignei “Tinaquillo”. (Venezuela); — A 117 – A. cf. hoignei “Rio Arauca”. Rio Tame River of the upper Rio Arauca River basin (Colombia).
Fairly peaceful, disputes between males end with territory division and retreat of the defeated from the battlefield. Spawning-ready males fiercely defend their territory from competitors. It is recommended to keep these fish in a group. The substrate is soft, sandy with driftwood and stones placed in such a way as to create many shady spots with caves. Dense vegetation along the edges of the aquarium.
Lighting is weak, diffused by floating plants. Clean, very soft, and slightly acidic water. Peat can be added to the filter to soften the water. Water flow from filtration should not be strong, water changes should be carried out in small portions. Eggs are laid in a cave. pH 5.5-7.0; dH up to 12°; T 23-28°C.
— Apistogramma iniridae [Kullander, 1979] — (А 159, A 160). Colombia, Venezuela, upper basins of the Inirida, Rio Negro, Orinoco rivers. Males up to 7 cm, females up to 4 cm. Males are light beige, with a green-olive back. The lateral stripe runs below the middle of the body and consists of large elongated spots, which can be expressed differently depending on the fish’s mood. The dorsal fin is sail-like, long, and reaches the tail.
Bright blue spots on the head and gills. During spawning, the female turns yellow, the longitudinal lateral stripe disappears, and only one dark spot remains on the side. Females do not have black coloration on the first rays of the dorsal and pectoral fins, and the ends of the pectoral fins are also elongated, although far from as much as in males.
Over time, maturing males begin to strongly elongate the ends of their pelvic fins (in adult males they extend far beyond the beginning of the anal fin) and the dorsal fin becomes higher, rising in a sail-like fashion. Subspecies: — A. cf. iniridae (A 160) – without a red border on the gill cover.
Peaceful, can be kept in a community aquarium. They are not particularly aggressive, but in a small space, aggression can become a serious problem. Can be kept in pairs or a small harem. Do not like water temperatures below 23°C. They reach sexual maturity at the age of 7-9 months. During reproduction, they have high water requirements; pH should be below 4.0. The male forms a harem of 3-4 females. Spawning in a cave. Males defend a large territory. Juveniles grow quite fast, reaching up to 3 cm in length at 4 months. pH 5.5-6.5; dH up to 10°; T 23-26°C.
— Apistogramma juruensis [Kullander, 1986] — (A 197). Brazil, upper Rio Jurua river basin. 8 cm, female 5 cm. Similar to A. cacatuoides. It is distinguished by lateral spots that always end with a vertical bar in the front part of the caudal peduncle base. It has developed jaws with thick yellowish or reddish lips. A dark stripe runs obliquely downward from the eye.
A wide horizontal stripe runs along the side, with 2-3 thin stripes below. The lower part of the head and gill covers have a metallic blue color. The front rays of the dorsal fin are well developed (even in females). The male’s caudal fin has a pattern of vertical stripes and spots. During the spawning period, females clearly show a lateral stripe with a round spot at the base of the caudal fin.
Keep two females with one male. Otherwise, the male will incessantly bother the single female. Males are often aggressive towards males of their own species, merciless against any potential aggressor. Many caves are needed because they have visual territorial boundaries within the tank. Females with broods are usually aggressive towards any fish. pH 5.0-6.5; dH 1-7°; T 24-28°C.
— Apistogramma linkei [Koslowski, 1985]. (Eng. Linke’s Dwarf Cichlid). Bolivia, Mamore and Beni river basin. Male 6 cm, female 4 cm. In males, the head and back are brown, the lower part of the head and chest are yellowish, the belly is ivory colored. Females are gray, turning yellow during spawning. An oval black spot is at the base of the tail, a narrow dark stripe runs from the eye to the tail. A black strip runs from the eye down to the gills. There are 7 faint vertical stripes along the entire body reaching the belly.
Males have elongated pelvic fins. Males have pointed anal and dorsal fins, which are rounded in females. Currently, two forms of A. linkei are described: — A 98 – A. linkei “Rio Itonamas”. Rio Jacapani river basin in northern Bolivia; — A 99 – A. linkei “Santa Cruz”. Mamore and Guapore river basin (Bolivia);
This is a polygamous species, it is advisable to keep them in a group in a large aquarium. Males occupy a territory that houses several females. Aquarium with dense vegetation, sandy substrate, many shelters made of driftwood, coconut shell, stones. They prefer soft and medium-hard water, pH below 6 is poorly tolerated, weekly water changes should be carried out in small portions. They eat both live and dried foods. Young males reach sexual maturity in 5-6 months, and females in about 8 months. The female lays eggs in a cave. Fry reach a size of 3 cm in 3 months. pH 5.8-6.5; dH up to 10; T 22-28°C.
— Apistogramma macmasteri [Kullander, 1979] — (A 122). (Eng. Macmaster’s Dwarf Cichlid). Venezuela, Colombia, Orinoco, Rio Meta, Rio Metica, Rio Ocoa rivers. Male 6, female 4 cm. Coloration varies greatly depending on mood and reproductive activity. The main coloration ranges from silvery gray to yellowish brown with irregular dark spots. Sometimes an indistinct dark longitudinal line runs from the eye to the caudal fin.
Two dark spots lie, one in the center of the body and the other on the caudal peduncle. A second line of black spots runs along the spine on the dorsal fin line. Also, a stripe runs from the eye down to the throat. Dorsal and anal fins are orange, with dark borders and very extended rays, front rays are black. The caudal fin is yellow with red edges. Pelvic fins are gray, with black front rays.
Males are significantly larger. Females are less brightly colored, yellow, but the dark reticulation is brighter and more contrasting. During spawning, it acquires a lemon or golden yellow color with a coal-black contrasting pattern. The black spot on the caudal peduncle is more pronounced in females. Juveniles look dull.
Apistogramma macmasteri is very similar to A. viejita I. This color variety of A. viejita inhabits the same bodies of water as Macmaster’s apistogrammas. Differences in coloration are so minor that it is almost impossible to determine who is who without seeing both specimens simultaneously. Are such minor differences as size and a slightly different shape of the tail spot, a slightly higher dorsal fin, and the absence of a black throat spot in the breeding-colored female A. macmasteri, different lengths of the dorsal and anal fins reaching the end of the tail in A. macmasteri and not reaching in A. viejita, sufficient for taxonomic differentiation? According to some reports, they interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Currently, three forms of A. macmasteri are described: — A 120 – A. macmasteri “Wildfang, gelb”. Rio Meta, Rio Guatiquia, Rio Ocoa river basin (Colombia); — A 121 – A. macmasteri “Rotrucken”. Upper Rio Guaviare and Rio Meta river basin (Colombia); — A 122 – A. macmasteri/viejita. Rio Meta River (Colombia).
Aquarium with a large bottom area (especially length), as males keep a harem. Peaceful, very aggressive during spawning. Fish are kept in pairs, but a male with 2-4 females is better, with characins and other small schooling species: they are calm, peaceful, do not bully anyone, do not bother anyone. But relations with conspecifics can by no means be called friendly.
In the peripheral areas of the aquarium, there are dense multi-level thickets of plants, alternating with branching driftwood and smooth stones scattered across the bottom, ceramic tubes, pots, which creates the necessary number of shelters for females, but also sufficient free swimming space. Open areas of dark sandy or fine-fraction substrate are used by females, who single-handedly care for the offspring, to build pits. They stay in the lower layer.
Water quality must be top-notch, without bacterial turbidity and mechanical suspension, excess dissolved organics depresses these cichlids, so regular water changes and efficient filtration are necessary. Fish do not like too strong water flow in the aquarium. The basis of nutrition is live and frozen food, but it can accept meaty pellets or flakes. However, to avoid intestinal infections, one should be cautious when feeding tubifex. Additionally, plant-based foods.
Sexual maturity at 6-8 months. A reproducing pair tries to control the largest possible bottom area (at least 40×40 cm) and all the space above it. The female lays eggs on a pre-prepared flat surface, inverted flower pots, coconut shell, or driftwood, and she cares for the offspring, allowing the male to vigilantly patrol the surrounding territory. Fry grow quite slowly, reaching 1.5-2.0 cm by two months. Sexual differences appear at a length of 3-4 cm. They live up to 3 years. pH 5.5-7.5; dH 2-15°; T 22-26°C.
Apistogramma nijsseni, ortmanni, panduro, pertensis.
Apistogramma gibbiceps, gephyra, gossei, hongsloi, hippolytae. 
