Apistogramma Agassizii Care: Tank, Diet & Breeding Tips

The Double Red Apisto is a small, colorful fish. Its full name is Apistogramma agassizii. It’s a favorite for home tanks. People love it because it’s pretty, active, and easy to care for.

How Big Are They?
Male Apistos grow up to 3 inches long. Females are smaller, around 2 to 2.5 inches. Males are much more colorful than females.

What Do They Look Like?
The Double Red type has bright red and orange fins. Its tail is shaped like a spade. The body often shines in the light. Males are very bright. Females are duller in color. They often look brown or orange. But when they’re ready to breed, females turn bright yellow.

Why Pick This Fish?
They’re easy to keep. They don’t need much space. They add beauty and life to any tank.

Natural Habitat of Apistogramma Agassizii

Where Do They Live in Nature?
Apistogramma agassizii comes from the Amazon. They live in parts of Brazil and Peru. In the wild, they stay in shallow water. The water moves slowly and is full of plants and dead leaves.

The water is a bit cloudy. It’s warm too—between 75°F and 82°F. The pH is slightly acidic. These spots give the fish many places to hide and feel safe.

How to Copy Their Home in a Tank
You can copy their wild home in your tank. Just add plants, rocks, and leaf litter. This helps them feel calm and safe. Keep the water clean and steady to keep them happy.

How They Act and Who They Live With
These fish are calm but like their space. During breeding, they may chase others away. You don’t need to keep a group—one or two is fine.

They do well in a peaceful tank. Pick tank mates that aren’t bossy or fast. Also, give them places to hide when they feel scared.

Suitable Tank Mates

Some species that make good tank mates for Apistogramma agassizii are:

Fish Species	Compatibility
Tetras	Peaceful, small, and schooling
Danios	Active, peaceful, and robust
Rasboras	Peaceful and small, ideal for community tanks
Corydoras Catfish	Bottom dwellers, peaceful and non-aggressive

Tank Friends
Most peaceful fish will not bother Apistogrammas. They are calm too. But during breeding, they may guard their space. To help, add hiding spots. This keeps fights to a minimum.

Shrimp Warning
Apistogrammas aren’t mean, but they do hunt tiny things. If you keep shrimp, be careful. Small shrimp may get eaten. Big shrimp can hide or escape, but it’s still safer not to keep shrimp at all.

What They Eat
These fish eat both meat and plants. In the wild, they eat bugs and tiny water life. You should give them a mix of foods. Use flakes, frozen, or live food. This keeps them healthy and bright.

Recommended Foods

Food Type	Examples
Flakes	High-quality flake food
Pellets	Sinking pellets for bottom dwellers
Frozen Foods	Brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia
Live Foods	Small live worms, mosquito larvae

Feeding Tips

Don’t give the same food every day—fish get bored, just like us. A mix of dry, frozen, and live food works best. This helps them stay happy and strong.

Breeding Apistogramma Agassizii

Breeding Time

Breeding these fish can be fun and exciting. To do it right, set up a calm, safe space. Keep the water clean and warm. With care, you may see baby fish soon!

Distinguishing Males and Females

It’s pretty easy to tell male and female Apistogrammas apart, especially when they’re fully grown. Here’s a simple table to help:

Characteristic: Size – Color – Tail Shape

Male Apistogramma	Female Apistogramma
Bigger – up to 8 cm	Smaller – about 5–6 cm
Bright red or orange	Duller – brown or orange
Long, spade-shaped tail	Short, round tail

Sex Differences in Apistogramma agassizii
Many Apistogrammas look different based on their sex. Males are often more colorful and act like the leaders in the tank. Females are usually less bright, but when ready to breed, they turn bright yellow or orange.

Breeding Tips

Give Them a Breeding Cave
These fish love to lay eggs in small hiding spots. You can use a small cave or even a flowerpot.
Check the Water
Use slightly acidic water with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. The water should be warm—about 26°C (79°F)—and soft.
Remove the Male After Breeding
Once the eggs are fertilized, take the male out. He might chase the female, which can stress her out.
Feed Well
Both fish should get good food. Give them high-quality meals to help the female make eggs and help the baby fish grow strong.

Health and Common Issues

Apistogramma agassizii are hardy fish, but dirty water or stress can make them sick. Watch out for these issues:

Hole-in-the-Head Disease
This can happen from stress or poor water quality. It shows up as small holes on the fish’s head. Clean water and medication can help fix it.

Fin Rot
This comes from bacteria. It may occur if water is bad or if other fish bully your Apisto. Use clean water and treat sick fish right away.

How to Keep Them Healthy

Keep the water clean. Change 25% or more of the water each week.
Use a good filter.
Don’t put too many fish in the tank.
Quarantine new fish before adding them.
Avoid aggressive fish in the tank.
Give your Apisto a mix of foods.
Test the water often for pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.
Watch for odd behavior or changes in appearance.

Final Thoughts

Apistogramma agassizii is a beautiful dwarf cichlid. It’s easy to care for and adds color and life to your tank. With the right food, tank mates, and clean water, these fish will live happy, long lives.

FAQ

Are Apistogramma agassizii aggressive?
As far as species, Apistogramma agassizii are typically peaceful fish but can be quite territorial when breeding. This time can make males more aggressive toward other males, so be sure to add adequate hiding spaces in the tank.

How many Apistogramma should be kept together?
Apistogramma agassizii has a highly playful nature, aquarists should keep them in pairs or small groups. If you put more males in a little tank, chances are the males will be aggressive toward one another.

How big do Apistogramma agassizii get?
Apistogramma agassizii males reach a total length of up to 8 cm (3 in) and females reach 5–6 cm (2–2.4 in).