Apistogramma pertensis Breeding Guide

How to breed Apistogramma pertensis, a Rio Negro and Amazon dwarf cichlid that lays about 120 eggs on cave ceilings tended by the female.

Overview

Apistogramma pertensis is a small benthopelagic dwarf cichlid of the Amazon River basin, occurring in the lower Negro River and along the Amazon-Solimoes from Manacapuru to Monte Alegre. According to FishBase it is a cave spawner: eggs are deposited on the ceiling of caves and tended by the female parent. Following the genus pattern, the female provides maternal care while the male holds a territory.

Sexing

The species is sexually dimorphic in size, with males reaching about 3.9 cm SL and females about 4.5 cm. As across the genus, breeding females are most frequently yellow with blackish markings, while males show stronger coloration and more developed fins.

Conditioning

As a small predatory dwarf cichlid, A. pertensis is conditioned on small live and frozen foods. Stable soft, acidic water and consistent feeding bring females into spawning condition, reproducing the soft blackwater of the lower Negro and Amazon-Solimoes reaches it inhabits according to FishBase.

Breeding Setup

Provide caves with a ceiling to which eggs can be attached, in a soft, acidic tank. FishBase reports a temperature of 23-30 degrees C, a pH from about 5.5 upward and dH from about 5, reflecting the soft blackwater habitat of the Rio Negro.

Spawning Behaviour & Trigger

Spawning takes place inside a cave. According to FishBase the female deposits about 120 eggs on the cave ceiling and tends the clutch, providing exclusive parental care until the eggs hatch and the fry develop.

Egg & Fry Care

The female tends the eggs on the cave ceiling and then guards and leads the larvae after hatching. The male defends the surrounding territory rather than tending the brood directly, in line with the typical Apistogramma division of roles.

Common Challenges

As a soft-water Rio Negro species, A. pertensis is sensitive to water quality, so maintaining stable, soft and acidic conditions is the principal requirement for successful egg development and fry survival. Wikipedia notes that across the genus water conditions affect offspring sex ratios, with warmer water and, in some species, lower pH producing more males; keeping parameters stable and moderate therefore helps yield balanced broods.