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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Banded dwarf cichlid
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Variations

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Banded dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma bitaeniata · Bitaeniata, Apisto bitaeniata, Two-stripe apisto

Peaceful with fish its own size; keep one male per tank.

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7.5 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
5–7pH ✓
54 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Banded dwarf cichlid is tropical.
  • They need different temperatures (24–28 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Banded dwarf cichlid only grows to 7.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (24–28 °C vs 10–22 °C). No setting suits both.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

304 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓0–5 dGH
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful with fish its own size; keep one male per tank.

Food

Frozen bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, small sinking pellets and live baby brine shrimp.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males are larger, more colourful and have longer fins (extended dorsal rays); females are smaller with a bold black stripe and turn yellow when guarding.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner (harem) · Moderate

Cave spawner: eggs are attached to a cave ceiling and the female cares for eggs and fry.

Pairing

Keep one male with 2-4 females; each female claims a cave, pot or coconut shell.

Setup

A 40 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, fine sand, many small caves, terracotta pots and leaf litter, with soft, slightly acidic water.

What starts it

Soft, slightly acidic water, warmer temperatures, frequent water changes and live or frozen foods.

Eggs

About 40-60 eggs in a cave; the female tends the clutch.

Raising the fry

The female guards the wrigglers and then the free-swimming fry; feed microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp from day 4-5.

Common mistakes
  • Too few hiding places
  • Hard, alkaline water
  • Several males in a small tank
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionUpper Amazon – Peru, Colombia & Brazil
Rivers and lakesUpper Amazon tributaries in Peru, Colombia and Brazil
HabitatShallow forest streams with leaf litter
Native rangeAbout 600 km across
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The story of the banded dwarf cichlid

A colourful dwarf cichlid of the western Amazon (Peru, Colombia, Brazil) with a bold dark band; many locality forms such as 'Tefé' (A213) are traded, and locality names are often misapplied.

French ichthyologist Jacques Pellegrin described this species in 1936. It has two dark lengthwise stripes along its body. Many locality forms are traded, and males have long dorsal fin extensions.

First described by Jacques Pellegrin in 1936. Named for Bitaeniata means 'two-banded'.

  • It has two dark lines along its body.
  • Males show long, pointed fin rays.
  • Many local forms are traded under place names.

Sources

13 facts checked with sources