Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma borellii
Cichlidae
About
The umbrella dwarf cichlid is a small, personable South American cichlid from the slow, subtropical waters of the Paraguay and lower Paraná basins. Males show a delicate powder-blue sheen with a broad, fan-like dorsal fin, while females turn buttery yellow when guarding eggs. It is among the most peaceful and cool-tolerant Apistogramma, making it a superb first dwarf cichlid for a soft-water, well-planted tank.
Care
Keep as a pair or a one-male harem in a mature, gently filtered planted tank of 75 L or more with soft, slightly acidic water, sand substrate and caves for spawning. Tolerates cooler subtropical temperatures; only turns mildly territorial when breeding.
Diet
Carnivorous micropredator that sifts and hunts tiny invertebrates; feed frozen or live daphnia, cyclops, baby brine and bloodworms, supplemented with quality micro-pellets.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (67)
Possible with care (153)
Avoid (51)
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 Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid need?
- A Umbrella 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 Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid need?
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 5–8 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
- Is the Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Umbrella 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.