Nijssen's Apisto (Apistogramma nijsseni) Care Guide
Apistogramma nijsseni is a Peruvian blackwater dwarf cichlid from Ucayali tributaries that forms pair bonds and needs soft, acidic water.
Overview
Apistogramma nijsseni is a dwarf cichlid described by Kullander in 1979 and named after Dutch ichthyologist Han Nijssen. It comes from blackwater tributaries of the Rio Ucayali in northern Peru and forms distinct pair bonds.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Apistogramma
- Scientific name: Apistogramma nijsseni
- Described by: Kullander, 1979
Habitat
FishBase records it from the Carahuayte River drainage, a tributary of the Rio Ucayali. Seriously Fish describes slow-moving blackwater streams and creeks in the Loreto Region of Peru, stained dark by humic acids, with very low mineral content, dense forest canopy and substrates of fallen branches and decomposing leaves; field pH can be as low as 4.0-5.0.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 25-29 C (77-84 F)
- pH: 4.5-6.5
- GH: 1-4 dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
The species is primarily carnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates (Seriously Fish). In captivity it accepts live and frozen foods such as Artemia, Daphnia and chironomid larvae, plus dried pellets.
Compatibility
According to Seriously Fish, captive-raised fish suit community setups, while wild examples are best kept alone or with small dither fishes and should not cohabit 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 or cavities. FishBase notes biparental care, with the female guarding eggs in the nest and both parents guarding the larvae; in smaller tanks the male may still require removal due to female aggression (Seriously Fish).
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Data Deficient (assessed 25 April 2014), per FishBase.