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Species verified
Species guide
South American river Australia: listed

Agassiz's dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma agassizii

Adult needs, habitat, social behaviour and care sources for this fish.

At a glance

Adult size
7.5 cm
Minimum tank
54 L
Swim zone
Bottom
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Group size
Can be kept singly
Native pH / temp
5–7 · 22–29 °C

Welfare notes

  • Native habitat: flowing_stream.
  • Listed on the DAFF permitted freshwater ornamental fish list as Apistogramma spp.

Where this care information comes from

Confidence: medium · reviewed 9/20/2026

Seriously Fish husbandry; FishBase size and range

Same-species strategy: harem

Keep one male to two or more females. Males are territorial towards each other.

Australia reference notes

Import rules and the rules for keeping a fish are not always the same.

Federal import
Import status not yet verified
Keeping this species
Check state or territory rules
Evidence confidence
Incomplete. Check the current rules before relying on this.
Last reviewed
Not recorded

We still need to add a source for this jurisdiction.

These notes only cover Australia and may not apply where you live. Rules can also change, so check with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before buying, moving or collecting fish.

How FishTankr checks this fish

This fish affects tank mates, swimming room and water. The cycle can limit the score. Waste load and biotope match stay separate.

Species compatibility

When FishTankr checks this fish against its tank mates, it considers that it may chase or intimidate peaceful fish.

Waste load (beta)

Each Agassiz's dwarf cichlid adds about 1.4 to our early-stage waste estimate. We only use this to show a broad beta band. It does not set a safe fish limit, and a faster pump cannot improve it.

Space to swim

This fish needs at least 54 L for adult swimming and territory. It is not especially active, but still needs the minimum tank volume.

Biotope match

This fish comes from South American river (flowing_stream), where the pH is typically 5–7 and the temperature 22–29 °C. The optional biotope match looks for fish, water and décor from the same region.

Regional reference

Australian federal records list this fish as permitted for import with conditions. State or territory rules may still apply, so check the source before buying.

Where to buy

We do not track shop stock. Pick your location and we will run a live search for Agassiz's dwarf cichlid on each independent shop's own website.

Where are you?
Search for

Search links go straight to each shop's own site, so you always see their current stock, not our copy of it. Delivery details show the date we last checked them on the shop's site.

Related species

These fish have promising swim-zone, temperament and water matches. Add the full group to your tank plan before deciding whether they can live together.

Individual fish vary. Check each species’ needs and local regulations before you buy.