Panduro's Apisto (Apistogramma panduro) Care Guide
Apistogramma panduro is a Peruvian dwarf cichlid from the Rio Ucayali drainage that forms monogamous pairs and needs soft, acidic water.
Overview
Apistogramma panduro is a dwarf cichlid described by Romer in 1997 and named after Peruvian fish exporters who first collected the type specimens. It comes from the Rio Ucayali system in northern Peru and forms monogamous pairs.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Apistogramma
- Scientific name: Apistogramma panduro
- Described by: Romer, 1997
Habitat
Seriously Fish records the species from the Rio Ucayali drainage in the Genaro/Jenaro Herrera District, Requena Province, Loreto Region, northern Peru, and from the Rio Tahuayo. It inhabits slower-moving tributaries where leaf litter accumulates. FishBase notes the exact locality as historically uncertain.
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 (Seriously Fish). It should regularly receive live or frozen foods such as Artemia, Daphnia and bloodworm, though most specimens also accept dried pellets.
Compatibility
Per Seriously Fish, captive-raised specimens suit community aquariums, whereas wild fish can be quite aggressive toward conspecifics and are best kept alone or with small dither fishes; the species should not be mixed with other Apistogramma. Pairs are often monogamous.
Breeding
It is a substrate spawner that lays eggs in crevices, with the female providing post-spawning care of eggs and fry. In smaller tanks the male may require removal due to female aggression during broodcare.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 25 April 2014), per FishBase.