Apistogramma urteagai Breeding Guide
Breeding Apistogramma urteagai: cave spawning, female-tended eggs and larvae, soft acidic water from small Peruvian streams and swamps.
Overview
Apistogramma urteagai, described by Kullander in 1986, is a dwarf cichlid from the Madre de Dios River basin in Peru. FishBase records a maximum length of 4.1 cm SL and notes it inhabits small streams and swamps. It is a cave spawner with female brood care; where species data is limited, the guide draws on the documented breeding pattern of the genus Apistogramma.
Sexing
Specific dimorphism for A. urteagai is not detailed in available scientific sources. For the genus, males are generally larger with more extended, pointed unpaired fins and stronger colour, while females are smaller and rounder; this is documented for the genus rather than confirmed for this species.
Conditioning
The species is a small carnivore best conditioned on small live and frozen invertebrate foods, in a soft, warm tank reflecting its small-stream and swamp habitat.
Breeding Setup
- Temperature: 22-29 °C (FishBase)
- pH: 5.0-6.0 (FishBase)
- dH: 6-10 (FishBase)
- Spawning sites: enclosed caves; eggs attached to the cave ceiling
- Layout: sand substrate with small caves (genus pattern)
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
FishBase states that eggs are attached to the ceiling of caves and that the female cares for eggs and larvae. For the genus, nearly all Apistogramma spawn in crevices or small caves and most use a polygamous harem strategy in which the male defends a territory containing several females. Soft, warm, acidic water reproducing the natural stream habitat encourages spawning.
Egg & Fry Care
The female tends the clutch in the cave and guards larvae and free-swimming fry, while the male defends the territory, as documented for the genus. For Apistogramma generally, warmer and more acidic water tends to skew the sex ratio toward males; this is a genus-level observation with species-specific data for A. urteagai limited.
Common Challenges
Maintaining clean, soft, slightly acidic water and providing secure caves are the main practical concerns. IUCN lists the species as Least Concern (assessed 2014).