Macmaster's Apisto (Apistogramma macmasteri) Care Guide
Apistogramma macmasteri is a Colombian dwarf cichlid from the upper Meta River system, kept in soft, slightly acidic water.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Apistogramma macmasteri is a dwarf cichlid described by Kullander in 1979 and named after dwarf-cichlid enthusiast Mark McMaster. It originates from the upper Rio Meta system in Colombia and is known as one of the more accessible Apistogramma.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Apistogramma
- Scientific name: Apistogramma macmasteri
- Described by: Kullander, 1979
Habitat
Seriously Fish and FishBase record the species from the Rio Guaytiquia and Rio Metica drainages of the upper Rio Meta system, Orinoco basin, Colombia. Seriously Fish describes it as a blackwater species that prefers dim lighting and soft, acidic conditions.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 24-28 C (75-82 F)
- pH: 5.5-7.2
- GH: 2-10 dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
The species is primarily carnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates in nature (Seriously Fish). In the aquarium it accepts live and frozen foods such as Artemia, Daphnia and chironomid larvae, plus dried pellets.
Compatibility
Per Seriously Fish, captive-raised specimens suit community aquariums, while wild fish are best kept alone or with small dither species and should not be mixed with other Apistogramma. The KB record lists it as bottom-dwelling and semi-aggressive.
Breeding
It is a substrate spawner that lays eggs in crevices. The female guards the eggs and fry and can become hyper-aggressive during broodcare, so the male may need to be removed in smaller tanks.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (assessed 3 August 2020), per FishBase, based on habitat-loss criteria.
Apistogramma macmasteri Breeding Guide
Overview
Apistogramma macmasteri is a Colombian dwarf cichlid from the Meta River basin in the Orinoco drainage. Like nearly all Apistogramma it is a crevice (small-cave) spawner that breeds in soft, acidic, warm water, with the female taking the lead in brood care. Males are larger, more colourful and develop more extended fins than females (Seriously Fish).
Sexing
Per Seriously Fish, males are larger, more colourful and develop more extended finnage than females. Females are smaller and plainer outside breeding, turning bright yellow when guarding eggs and fry, as is typical of the genus.
Conditioning
As a micro-predator (the record lists a carnivorous diet), this species is conditioned on small live and frozen foods. Seriously Fish notes that dried leaf litter in the tank provides a valuable secondary food source for the fry, supporting the leaf-litter biotope these fish favour.
Breeding Setup
- Water temperature: 24-28 °C (Seriously Fish).
- pH: 5.5-7.0 (Seriously Fish).
- Hardness: soft, around 0-90 ppm (Seriously Fish).
- Décor: caves or crevices (a small clay cave or coconut shell) for the eggs, plus leaf litter.
- Stocking: a pair, or a harem of one male with several females given enough space and broken sightlines.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
This is a substrate spawner that lays its eggs in crevices or cavities among the décor (Seriously Fish). Apistogramma breed either as monogamous pairs or polyandrously in harems, with the female more involved in caring for eggs and fry while the male defends the wider territory (Wikipedia). Soft, acidic, warm water and a suitable cave are the main triggers.
Egg & Fry Care
The female is responsible for post-spawning care of eggs and fry; in smaller aquaria the male may need to be removed as she can become hyper-aggressive (Seriously Fish). A genus-wide trait is temperature-dependent sex determination: across studied Apistogramma, warmer water produces more males, and in some populations more acidic water also yields more males (Wikipedia). Fry can graze on micro-organisms in leaf litter alongside small live foods.
Common Challenges
Maintaining soft, acidic, warm, stable water and managing the female's strong post-spawning aggression are the principal challenges. Aquarists who want balanced sex ratios in the fry should pay attention to brooding temperature, since warmer water skews broods toward males.