Blue Panda Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma panduro
Cichlidae
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About
The blue panda is the one Apistogramma in this catalogue that should not be kept as a harem. Agassiz's and the cockatoo apisto are harem fish - one male to three females, and the tank is his - but Seriously Fish is explicit that with panduro, 'once pairs form they often remain monogamous meaning there is no need to maintain a harem of females alongside a male'. Buy a group of young fish, let a pair form, and move the rest on. The second thing that separates it from the other four is water: Seriously Fish gives pH 4.0-6.5 and 0-90 ppm hardness, softer and more acid than the bands we list for agassizii, borellii, cacatuoides or macmasteri, and softer than Lithuanian tap water anywhere in the country. It comes from the Río Ucayali drainage in the Loreto Region of northern Peru and from the Río Tahuayo further north, and it 'tends to inhabit slower-moving tributaries, backwaters and creeks in areas where fallen leaf litter collects'. The lower jaw is the identification: it 'characteristically extends beyond the upper', which is what separates panduro from the similar-looking members of the A. nijsseni group sold beside it. Size is reported inconsistently - Seriously Fish gives a maximum standard length of 7.5 cm for males and 5.5 cm for females, FishBase only 4.9 cm SL - and we gate on the larger of the two. Like a pleco with its L-number, this fish also carries a code: A183 under the DATZ system, with a possibly conspecific variant from the Río Tamshiyacu listed as A184.
Care
A pair, not a harem. Seriously Fish gives base dimensions of 60 x 30 cm as acceptable for a single pair, so 75 L is enough - the demand here is chemistry, not volume. Aim for pH 5-6.5 in soft water over fine sand, with wood, caves, dried leaf litter and dim light; Microsorum, Taxiphyllum, Cryptocoryne and Anubias grow in that light and most other plants will not. Keep water changes small and frequent - Seriously Fish suggests 10-15 % weekly rather than the big change most cichlids get - and keep flow gentle. Captive-raised fish are the ones to buy for a quiet community tank; wild examples are better kept alone or with small dither fishes such as Nannostomus, and should not be mixed with other Apistogramma. Feed live and frozen food, with pellets rather than flake for the dry portion.
Diet
Carnivorous micropredator on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Frozen and live Artemia, Daphnia and bloodworm as the core, plus a small sinking pellet - Seriously Fish notes that pelleted dry products are generally preferred to flake.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (176)
Possible with care (197)
Avoid (45)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
Also in these lists
Similar species
Same category and the closest water parameters — if this species isn't quite it, start here.
Sold in Lithuania
These Lithuanian shops listed this species in their public catalogue (checked August 8, 2026). Stock moves — ask before you travel.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Blue Panda Dwarf Cichlid need?
- A Blue Panda Dwarf Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Blue Panda Dwarf Cichlid need?
- Blue Panda Dwarf Cichlid does best at 22–29 °C (71.6–84.2 °F), pH 4.5–7 and a general hardness of 0–8 °dGH.
- Is the Blue Panda Dwarf Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Blue Panda Dwarf Cichlid is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.