All fish / Cichlidae

Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma borellii

Also known as umbrella dwarf cichlid, yellow dwarf cichlid, borelli, borellii opal, opal apistogramma, apistogramma reitzigi, reitzigi, umbrella cichlid, apistogramma borelli, アピストグラマ・ボレリー, 波氏阿卡, 黄金阿卡

A small, stocky dwarf cichlid in which males show yellow heads and bodies, blue sheen on the flanks and tall, umbrella-like dorsal and pelvic fins. It is popular for its calm nature compared with other Apistogramma and its tolerance of cooler water, which makes it a good choice for planted community tanks without tropical heat.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

One male with two or three females

Diet

Carnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, plus quality small pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Paraguay and Paraná river basins: Paraguay, southern Brazil, northern Argentina, eastern Bolivia

Breeding

A cave spawner: the female lays eggs inside a cave or under a leaf and guards eggs and fry, turning bright yellow, while the male patrols the area. Breeding is fairly straightforward in soft, slightly acidic water with good cover, and fry take baby brine shrimp after free-swimming.

Good to know

Older names such as A. reitzigi are treated as synonyms of A. borellii by most databases, so stock may be labelled either way. Prefers cooler water than most dwarf cichlids, so avoid keeping it permanently above about 26°C.