Apistogramma Borellii Dwarf Cichlid

Borellii male apistos range from all blue (the steel blue variety) if tank-raised, to the wild variation, which has bright gold and blue markings as they reach maturity. AquariumFish.com recommends purchasing apistogrammas in pairs to bring out the most color of the males.

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: Borellii come from cooler southern waters, so they suit tanks kept in the low to mid 70s that would be too cool for other apistos.