Agassiz's dwarf cichlid care guide
Also called: Agassizii, Agassiz's apisto, Apistogramma agassizi, Fire red apisto, Double red apisto
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid is a colorful Amazon cichlid that stays around 7 cm (3 in). Males have bright fins and a spade-shaped tail. It needs soft, slightly acidic, very clean water and small caves on the bottom to claim as home.
Agassiz's dwarf cichlids need a tank of at least 20 gallons (76 L), and water at 25–29°C (77–84°F) with a pH of 5–7. They grow to about 7 cm (2.8 in) and are semi-aggressive.
Plan a tank with Agassiz's dwarf cichlidsSee all tank mates
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid quick facts
| Scientific name | Apistogramma agassizii |
|---|---|
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Origin | Amazon basin, South America (most in shops are tank-bred color strains) |
| Adult size | 7 cm (2.8 in) |
| Minimum tank | 20 gallons (76 L), at least 60 cm (24 in) long |
| Temperature | 25–29°C (77–84°F) |
| pH | 5–7 |
| Hardness (GH) | 1–10 dGH |
| Group size | Alone, or 1 male with several females |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Bottom |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 4–6 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Needs sand or smooth, fine gravel to protect its barbels and belly.
Tank setup
A 20-gallon (76 L) tank about 60 cm (24 in) long suits one male with one or two females. Use a sand bottom, leaf litter, driftwood and several small caves spread across the floor so each fish can claim its own spot. Plants and soft lighting help them feel safe.
How many Agassiz's dwarf cichlids in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits Agassiz's dwarf cichlids is a 20 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Agassiz's dwarf cichlids (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Up to 9 |
| 20 gallon long | Up to 9 |
| 29 gallon | Up to 14 |
| 40 gallon | Up to 19 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 26 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 36 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 61 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male, alone or with several females.
What you need for Agassiz's dwarf cichlids
Sized for a 20 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits Agassiz's dwarf cichlids. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 20 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 20 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 167 lb (76 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 100 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 81 °F (27 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 80–120 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 25 lb of aquarium sand (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 1.5 in (4 cm) deep. Soft sand protects the barbels of corydoras, loaches and other diggers. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 24 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for Agassiz's dwarf cichlids
- Sinking pellets or wafers (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bottom feeders need food that reaches the floor.
- Freeze-dried bloodworms or brine shrimp (opens Amazon in a new tab)A treat that carnivores and insect eaters love. Feed it a few times a week.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
- Indian almond leaves (opens Amazon in a new tab)Release tannins that soft-water fish like bettas and rams enjoy.
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Water parameters
Aim for 25–29 °C (77–84 °F), pH 5.0–7.0 and soft water of 1–10 dGH. Tank-bred fish adapt to neutral tap water, but wild-type fish and breeding pairs do best in soft, acidic water. They react badly to nitrate build-up, so change water weekly and only add them to a fully cycled tank.
Best tank mates for Agassiz's dwarf cichlids
These popular species share Agassiz's dwarf cichlids' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 46 good matches.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Angelfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 24–29°C (75–84°F)
Tiger barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 21–27°C (70–81°F)
Avoid keeping Agassiz's dwarf cichlids with
- Cherry shrimp: Agassiz's dwarf cichlid eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Agassiz's dwarf cichlid 25–29°C (77–84°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Agassiz's dwarf cichlid 25–29°C (77–84°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Oscar: Oscar can eat Agassiz's dwarf cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Agassiz's dwarf cichlid 25–29°C (77–84°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Agassiz's dwarf cichlids don't belong in that setup.
Feeding
In the wild they pick tiny insects and crustaceans out of leaf litter. Feed small sinking pellets or granules, plus frozen or live bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia. Most tank-bred fish take pellets more readily than flakes.
Behavior
They mostly ignore fish in the upper and middle water, but they guard the floor around their caves and chase bottom fish that come too close. Males fight each other, so keep one male per tank unless it is large and full of cover. A school of small, calm dither fish such as pencilfish or tetras makes them bolder.
Breeding
Pairs breed fairly easily in soft, acidic water. The female sticks her eggs to the roof of a cave and guards the eggs and fry, while the male patrols the wider area. In small tanks she can turn on the male, so give him plenty of hiding places or move him out. Once the fry swim, feed them baby brine shrimp or microworms.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep one male with two or three females, and give each female her own cave.
- Point cave openings in different directions so the fish can't see each other all the time.
- Add a school of small, peaceful dither fish to coax them out into the open.
- Don't keep them with dwarf shrimp: adults will hunt them.
- Buy tank-bred fish if your tap water is not soft. They cope far better than wild-caught fish.
Frequently asked questions
How big do Agassiz's dwarf cichlids get?
Males usually reach about 7–8 cm (3 in) with long, colorful fins. Females stay smaller, around 5 cm (2 in), and are mostly yellow-gray with dark markings.
Can Agassiz's dwarf cichlids live with shrimp?
Not reliably. Adults hunt dwarf shrimp such as cherry shrimp, so keep shrimp in a separate tank.
What size tank do Agassiz's dwarf cichlids need?
A 20-gallon (76 L) tank works for a pair or a small harem of one male and two females. Go bigger if you want more than one male or many tank mates.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.