Pucallpa Apisto (Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis) Care Guide
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis is a South American dwarf cichlid; this guide covers its habitat, water parameters, diet, compatibility and breeding.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis is a dwarf cichlid of the family Cichlidae, described by Meinken, 1965. It is native to the upper Amazon, from Pucallpa on the Rio Ucayali in Peru to the Amazon River in Colombia; it typically lives among leaf litter or floating plants in still water. Wild specimens mature at about 3 cm (males) and around 2 cm (females). Although listed in some sources under Apistogramma, this species is placed in the genus Apistogrammoides, which differs mainly in a higher number of anal-fin spines. It is among the smallest of all cichlids.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Scientific name: Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis
- Describing authority: Meinken, 1965
Habitat
The upper Amazon, from Pucallpa on the Rio Ucayali in Peru to the Amazon River in Colombia; it typically lives among leaf litter or floating plants in still water forms the natural range of this species. Like most members of the genus, it favours sheltered margins of streams and creeks with leaf litter and gentle flow. Apistogramma species typically occur in shallow water, often less than 40 cm deep.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (~21 US gal)
- Temperature: 25-29 °C (77-84 °F)
- pH: 4.5-6.5
- GH: 1-4 °dGH
- Adult size: 5-8 cm
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
Apistogramma are omnivores that lean toward micropredation, feeding on aquatic insect larvae, small invertebrates and other tiny prey in nature. In the aquarium they take live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and water fleas, and many specimens also accept prepared foods.
Compatibility
This is a semi-aggressive, bottom-oriented dwarf cichlid. It is best kept with peaceful upper- and mid-water dither fish such as Cardinal Tetra, Rummy-Nose Tetra, Sterbai Corydoras, Hatchetfish. Housing more than one male of the same species, or combining it with angelfish or larger aggressive cichlids, is discouraged because of territorial conflict, particularly during breeding.
Breeding
Apistogramma are cave spawners. Eggs are laid on the ceiling of a cave or sheltered cavity, and the female tends the eggs and fry while the male guards the wider territory. Soft, slightly acidic water supports spawning.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: undefined.
Apistogramma pucallpaensis Breeding Guide
Overview
The Pucallpa dwarf cichlid is valid in FishBase as Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis (Meinken, 1965); the name Apistogramma pucallpaensis is not a separately recognized Apistogramma species, and the data below comes from the FishBase profile for Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis. It is a tiny Amazonian dwarf cichlid (males to 2.7 cm SL, females to 2.3 cm SL) from the Ucayali near Pucallpa, Peru, downstream to Colombia, and is a cave spawner with female brood care.
Sexing
FishBase records males slightly larger than females (2.7 cm vs 2.3 cm SL). No further morphological sexing detail is given for the species; the genus-wide pattern of larger, more pointed-finned, brighter males applies as documented for Apistogramma relatives.
Conditioning
This is a small carnivorous cichlid suited to small live and frozen invertebrate foods. It naturally occupies warm, soft freshwater, so conditioning is done in a stable, warm, soft-water tank.
Breeding Setup
- Temperature: 23-30 °C (FishBase)
- pH: acidic, around 5.5 (FishBase)
- dH: up to about 5 (FishBase)
- Spawning sites: enclosed caves; eggs deposited on the cave ceiling
- Layout: sand substrate with small caves (genus pattern)
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
FishBase states that about 80 eggs are attached to the ceiling of caves and tended by the female parent. As with related Apistogramma, the species follows a substrate-cave-brooding strategy in soft, warm, acidic water; reproducing those conditions encourages spawning.
Egg & Fry Care
The female alone tends the clutch of roughly 80 eggs on the cave ceiling and guards the larvae and fry, while a paired male defends the territory, following the care pattern documented for Apistogramma cave spawners. Stable warm, soft water supports egg development and fry survival.
Common Challenges
Its very small size means fry are tiny and need correspondingly small first foods; soft, warm, acidic water must be kept stable. IUCN lists the species as Least Concern (assessed 2020).