Gibbiceps Apisto (Apistogramma gibbiceps) Care Guide
Apistogramma gibbiceps is a dwarf cichlid from the Branco and middle Negro basins in Brazil, kept in soft, acidic blackwater.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Apistogramma gibbiceps is a dwarf cichlid of the family Cichlidae, originally described by Meinken in 1969 and redescribed by Kullander in 1980. It belongs to the genus Apistogramma, a group of small South American cichlids restricted to the lowlands east of the Andes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Apistogramma
- Scientific name: Apistogramma gibbiceps
- Described by: Meinken, 1969
Habitat
FishBase records the species from the Amazon River basin, specifically the Branco and middle Negro River basins in Brazil. As with other Apistogramma, it occupies sheltered freshwater habitats; Wikipedia notes that most members of the genus prefer shallow, slow-moving water with leaf litter on the bottom.
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
Apistogramma are omnivorous but tend toward micropredation, taking aquatic insect larvae and small invertebrates (Wikipedia). In the aquarium the genus is best fed live and frozen foods such as Artemia, Daphnia, Moina and chironomid larvae, with most fish also accepting dried pellets (Seriously Fish, genus account).
Compatibility
The KB record classifies the species as bottom-dwelling and semi-aggressive. For the genus, Seriously Fish recommends keeping wild fish alone or with small dither fishes and not mixing different Apistogramma in the same aquarium.
Breeding
Like other members of the genus, it is a substrate spawner that lays eggs in crevices or cavities, with the female mainly responsible for post-spawning care of eggs and fry (Seriously Fish, genus account; Wikipedia).
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 7 November 2018), per FishBase.
Apistogramma gibbiceps Breeding Guide
Overview
Apistogramma gibbiceps is a small benthopelagic dwarf cichlid of the Amazon River basin, occurring in the Branco and middle Negro River basins. According to FishBase it is a cave spawner: eggs are deposited on the ceiling of caves and are tended by the female parent. Like the rest of the genus it is best regarded as a harem species in which the female provides maternal care while the male holds a territory.
Sexing
The species is sexually dimorphic in size. FishBase gives a maximum length of about 4.5 cm SL for males and 5.0 cm for females. As is typical for Apistogramma, breeding females are most frequently yellow with blackish markings, while males show stronger, more varied coloration.
Conditioning
As a small predatory dwarf cichlid, A. gibbiceps is conditioned on small live and frozen foods. Stable soft, acidic water and consistent feeding bring females into spawning condition; the dark, soft waters of the Branco and middle Negro basins, which it inhabits according to FishBase, inform the conditions maintained in the breeding tank.
Breeding Setup
Provide caves with a roof on which eggs can be attached, set in a soft, acidic blackwater tank. FishBase reports a pH range of 5.0-6.0 and a temperature of 27-29 degrees C for this species, with dH from about 3 upward. These conditions reproduce the tea-coloured waters of its native range.
Spawning Behaviour & Trigger
Spawning takes place inside a cave, where the female attaches the eggs to the ceiling and guards them. According to FishBase a productive pair can generate about 250 eggs every six weeks, with the female caring for both eggs and larvae.
Egg & Fry Care
The female tends the clutch on the cave ceiling and then guards and leads the larvae after hatching. The male's role, as across the genus, is to defend the surrounding territory from predators rather than to tend the brood directly.
Common Challenges
As a blackwater species, A. gibbiceps requires soft, acidic water for successful spawning and egg development; maintaining these conditions stably is the main challenge for breeders. Wikipedia notes that across the genus water conditions affect offspring sex ratios, with warmer water and, in some species, lower pH producing more males, so keeping parameters stable and moderate helps yield balanced broods.