Apistogramma Wild (Lot of 4)

Our wild apistogramma come from small streams in the Colombia basin of the Amazon and can belong to one or more of 15 species in that region. All apistogrammas are peaceful and get along well with community fish, but they may eat small fancy shrimp. So this item is basically a grab bag right from Colombia. Many of the apistos cannot even be identified until they have matured, but all are terrific fish.

Each order comes with four assorted apistogramma.

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: Wild-caught assortments can include several species that are hard to tell apart until they mature, so each fish is a bit of a surprise as it grows.