Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis is often referred to as a T-shaped cichlid in the old aquarium literature. It is the only species of the genus Apistogrammoides that is very closely related to Apistogrammas. However, Apistogrammoides usually has eight spines in its anal fin, whereas Apistogrammas usually have only three.
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis occurs naturally in the upper Amazon basin in Peru and Colombia. The fish gets its name from a fishing ground in the Ucayali River near the town of Pucallpa in Peru. Keeping these fish is recommended for experienced aquarists.
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis is one of the smallest cichlid species. The size of males in an aquarium does not exceed 5 cm and females 4 cm. In nature, the size of fish and even smaller - the maximum size of males 3 cm, and females about 2.5 cm. All these dimensions are the total length (including tail fin).
The males and females are very similar. Males can always be recognized by the blue spots on the caudal fin, which females do not have. Females are pale gray-brown in color except for the pelvic fins, which are yellow with black trim. Males may be brightly colored in green, yellow, and blue. The coloration varies greatly from fish to fish.
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis is a so-called harem fish in which the females keep to a smaller territory and the male controls all territory with the females. The male's territory varies depending on the size of the aquarium. Two males may in some cases share a smaller aquarium with a bottom area of about 100x50 cm, if there are plants and snags, which can create boundaries. The female's territory is usually slightly smaller than that of the male.
The dominant male often demonstrates his splendid coloration, and if he meets a competitor, the power struggle begins with both demonstrating their contrasting coloration by circling around each other. If one of the males is clearly weaker, his coloration becomes pale brown and he leaves the competitor's territory. If the males perceive themselves to be equally strong, their pupils become large and completely black. Then the fish bite into each other's lips and in this position can stay for several minutes. The fish can repeat this tug of war several times until one of them is the winner. The winner retains its bright coloring, and the loser turns pale and leaves the territory of the winner.
Keep fish is recommended large flock of 10-20 fish. In a group of 20 fish can be only 1-2 males, but if you remove them from the group, there are almost always one or two fish that quickly increase in size and take the lead in the group.
Water parameters: temperature 22 - 29° C, hardness dH 1-8°, acidity pH 6,0-7,8. Requires filtration, aeration and a weekly change of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh.
The menu of fish in the aquarium consists of Artemia nauplii, shrimp, chironomid. You can also feed them and dry food, but they eat it reluctantly. Food is given twice a day.
Reproduction
Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis breed in the usual way, when the female lays eggs in a cave or other safe shelter. In total, the female hatches about 100 eggs. The larvae hatch in three to four days, and the fry begin swimming freely in four to six days.
The newly hatched fry are very small. In the first week of life they are fed with infusoria, and then begin to give nauplii artemii.
The life expectancy of Apistogrammoides pucallpaensis in aquarium conditions is 6-8 years.
