Macmaster's Dwarf Cichlid

About

Macmaster's Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma macmasteri) is one of the more accessible members of a wildly diverse South American genus that currently counts around 70 described species, with plenty more waiting in the wings. This one hails from the upper Meta River drainage in Colombia, specifically the Guaytiquía and Metica rivers within the broader Orinoco basin. Males are noticeably larger than females and tend to display more vivid coloration, which is pretty typical for the genus. Like most Apistogramma, this species is a cave spawner. Females attach eggs to the ceiling of a cave or crevice and take on full parenting duties. In smaller setups, the male may need to be pulled out once spawning is done, since a brooding female can become intensely protective. Day-to-day, males are generally peaceful but will assert themselves territorially, particularly around breeding time. Captive-bred individuals tend to settle into a community situation more readily than wild-caught fish, which generally do better with small, unobtrusive dither fish like pencilfish rather than other Apistogramma. Worth noting: a commercially popular 'red' form exists alongside the standard wild type, and hobbyists are advised to keep collection data with their fish to prevent accidental hybridization between geographic variants. An intermediate-level species that rewards careful setup.