Macmaster's Dwarf Cichlid

Macmaster's dwarf cichlid comes from the upper Meta River drainage in the Colombian Orinoco basin, inhabiting slow, soft, slightly acidic waters among leaf litter and submerged roots. Dominant males are handsome, with a high red-edged tail, blue cheek striping and a warm body coloration; females are smaller and pale yellow outside breeding. It is among the more tolerant and beginner-friendly Apistogramma, though it still prefers soft water. Keep one male with several females as a harem in a tank with plenty of caves, wood and planting to break sightlines. Maintain pH 5.5-7.0, low to moderate hardness and temperatures of 23-29 C. Feed varied live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, artemia and daphnia; many specimens also accept quality granules. Females are devoted cave spawners, aggressively defending fry, so give tankmates room to retreat.