Elizabeth's Apisto (Apistogramma elizabethae) Care Guide
Apistogramma elizabethae is a blackwater dwarf cichlid from the upper rio Negro system in Brazil, requiring very soft, acidic water.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Apistogramma elizabethae is a small geophagine dwarf cichlid described by Kullander in 1980. It originates from the upper rio Negro drainage in northwestern Brazil and is a specialist of soft, acidic blackwater. The species name honours Elizabeth Cabot Cary Agassiz (1822-1907).
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Apistogramma
- Scientific name: Apistogramma elizabethae
- Described by: Kullander, 1980
Habitat
According to FishBase and Seriously Fish, the species is found in the lower rio Uaupes (Amazonas state, Brazil) and the adjacent rio Icana, both tributaries of the upper rio Negro. It inhabits slower-moving tributaries, backwaters and creeks where leaf litter accumulates on the substrate.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 26-30 C (79-86 F)
- pH: 4.0-6.0
- GH: 1-3 dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
Seriously Fish describes the species as primarily carnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates in nature. In the aquarium it should regularly receive live and frozen foods such as Artemia, Daphnia, Moina and chironomid larvae; most specimens also learn to accept dried foods, with pellets generally preferred to flake.
Compatibility
Per Seriously Fish, this species is best maintained alone or with small dither fishes such as Nannostomus species, and ideally should not be mixed with other Apistogramma. The KB record classifies it as a bottom-dwelling, semi-aggressive species.
Breeding
It is a substrate (cave) spawner that lays eggs in crevices or cavities. The female provides most post-spawning care of eggs and fry; in smaller aquaria the male may need to be removed because the female can become highly aggressive. Fry are reported to be sensitive to changes in water chemistry.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 7 November 2018), per FishBase.
Apistogramma elizabethae Breeding Guide
Overview
Apistogramma elizabethae was described from the lower Rio Uaupes in northwestern Brazil and also occurs in the adjacent Rio Icana, both tributaries of the upper Rio Negro system. It belongs to the A. elizabethae group within the A. agassizii sublineage of the A. trifasciata lineage and carries the DATZ code A208. Seriously Fish describes it as a substrate spawner that lays its eggs in crevices or cavities among the decor.
Sexing
Males are larger, more colourful and develop more pronounced fin extensions than females. Maximum standard length is about 40-50 mm. The intensified coloration and elongated fins of the male contrast with the plainer, smaller female.
Conditioning
As a carnivorous dwarf cichlid, A. elizabethae is conditioned on small live and frozen foods. Because the fry are sensitive, stable water and good condition in the parents are important before spawning. Wikipedia notes that nearly all Apistogramma spawn in crevices, typically in holes in sunken logs or branches or in leaf-litter aggregations, so providing such structure encourages the female to choose a spawning site.
Breeding Setup
Provide caves or crevices and reproduce the blackwater habitat. Seriously Fish lists breeding parameters of 23-29 degrees C, pH 4.0-6.0 and hardness of 18-54 ppm, noting the species requires acidic conditions with negligible carbonate hardness and very low general hardness. In smaller aquaria the male may need to be removed because the female can become hyper-aggressive.
Spawning Behaviour & Trigger
The female deposits eggs inside the chosen cavity and is mostly responsible for post-spawning care of the eggs and fry. Very soft, acidic water is the key trigger and requirement for viable development.
Egg & Fry Care
According to Seriously Fish the fry are highly sensitive to changes in water chemistry; successful rearing requires multiple small daily meals and regular but never large partial water changes. The female leads and guards the fry.
Common Challenges
Maintaining the very soft, acidic conditions this blackwater species needs is the principal challenge, alongside female aggression toward the male during broodcare and the sensitivity of the fry to water-quality swings. As Wikipedia notes for the genus, water conditions also affect offspring sex ratios, with warmer water and, in some species, lower pH producing more males, so breeders should keep parameters stable to obtain balanced broods.