Two-striped Apistogramma

Apistogramma bitaeniata

Family : Cichlidae

FishFreshwaterdwarf cichlid

A dwarf cichlid with an elongated body and two horizontal black stripes. Peaceful but territorial, ideal for a planted aquarium.

Two-striped Apistogramma — photo 1 sur 3
Britzke · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.01 / 3
Popularity
Biotope specialist
requires biotope recreation
Availability
Specialty only
Shop availability
IUCN Status
LC
Least Concern
Biotope
South America
Hors bassin amazonien : Paraná, Orénoque, Andes.

Description

Apistogramma bitaeniata reaches up to 7 cm. Its body is elongated with two distinct black stripes on the flanks. The fins are often adorned with blue and red spots in males. The female is smaller and duller. It is a territorial but not very aggressive fish outside breeding. It lives in pairs or harems. It appreciates hiding spots like roots and dead leaves. In the aquarium, it stays near the substrate.

Habitat

Region :

Streams and blackwater in the Amazon basin, leaf litter zones

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature2428 °C
pH67.5
GH210 °dGH
KH15 °dKH
NO₃
≤ 20 mg/L
PO₄
≤ 0.5 mg/L

Care

Difficulty
3/5
Diet
Carnivore
Min. tank
80 L
Min. group
3
Adult size
7 cm
Lifespan
4 years
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Propagation

Care notes

Temperature 24-28°C, pH 6.0-7.5, GH 2-10. Minimum 80-liter tank for a pair or harem. Water should be soft to moderately hard with moderate filtration. Feed with meaty foods: brine shrimp, bloodworms, cichlid pellets. Dense plants and hiding spots are important. Avoid overly active fish. Compatible with peaceful tetras and corydoras.

Similar species

Espèces proches, même habitat ou même maintenance

References