Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma macmasteri
Cichlidae
About
The macmasteri dwarf cichlid is a colourful South American apistogramma from the Rio Meta drainage of Colombia, where males flaunt a warm red-orange shoulder and a striking red-edged tail. Modestly sized and community-friendly when captive-bred, it thrives in soft, warm, slightly acidic water with dim light, sandy substrate and leaf-litter cover. Males are territorial and the species is best kept as a pair or as a single male with two or three females.
Care
Keep a pair or harem in a soft, warm, slightly acidic tank of 75 L or more with fine sand, wood, plants and leaf litter. Peaceful toward other species but territorial to its own kind, especially the female when guarding a brood.
Diet
Carnivorous micropredator; feed frozen and live bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, supplemented with quality micro-pellets that most tank-bred fish accept.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (41)
Possible with care (136)
Avoid (94)
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.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid need?
- A Macmasteri 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 Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid need?
- Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid does best at 23–28 °C (73.4–82.4 °F), pH 5.5–7.5 and a general hardness of 1–12 °dGH.
- Is the Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.