Apistogramma Sunset Dwarf Cichlid

Viejita apistogrammas are called the sunset apistogrammas due to their strong yellow and orange colors as they reach two inches.

Apistogrammas and rams are the smallest cichlids and are very adaptive to planted and community tanks. Males are very beautiful.

Smaller fish have shorter lives, and apistogrammas generally live four years, with the exception of the Hongsloi, which lives to seven years. There are two hundred different dwarf cichlids, and AquariumFish.com imports numerous species. Pictured are a mature male and a juvenile male (smaller picture). AquariumFish.com generally ships juvenile-aged fish.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Give them a heater, a gentle filter, dim lighting and lots of plants, driftwood and leaf litter. Add a cave (a coconut shell or small clay pot) for each female. Most apistos prefer soft, slightly acidic water.

Feeding: Feed small pellets or flake once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tankmates: Keep them with small, peaceful fish such as tetras, rasboras, pencilfish, otocinclus and corydoras. A calm school of small "dither" fish helps apistos feel safe enough to come out. Keep one male per tank unless it is large and well planted, and avoid large or boisterous fish. Adults may eat small shrimp and baby shrimp.

Breeding: Apistos are cave spawners. The female lays her eggs inside a cave and guards the fry, while the male patrols the territory. One male with several females works well in a planted tank.

Good to know: Young viejita look fairly plain. The bright yellow and orange "sunset" colors develop as males mature to about 2".