Steindachner's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma steindachneri
moderatesemi aggressivebottom swimmerCichlidae
- Tank length
- 32 cm13 in
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C68–77 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 8 cm3 in
- Lifespan
- 3–6 yrs
One of the larger and hardier apistos; males are notably bossy, so allow a longer tank with several caves.One of the larger and hardier apistos; males are notably bossy, so allow a longer tank with several caves.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Irian Jaya rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
MollyNo shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Parkinson's rainbowfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 20–25 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.5–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–10 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Guyana and Suriname coastal rivers | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | semi aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 3–6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 9 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |