Apistogramma agassizii Gold Fire Red

🐠 Apistogramma agassizii “Gold Fire Red”

Common Names: Gold Fire Red Agassizii, Apisto Gold Red
Origin: Amazon Basin, South America
Adult Size: Males 3–3.5 in (7–9 cm) • Females 2–2.5 in (5–6 cm)
Lifespan: 3–5 years

🔹 Temperament & Behavior

• Semi-aggressive, typical of dwarf cichlids.
• Males are territorial, especially in breeding.
• Best in a harem setup (1 male with 2–3 females) or as a bonded pair in a species-only or carefully planned community.
• Curious, intelligent, and interactive fish.

🔹 Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons (species setup) • 30+ gallons for community/harem.
• Water Parameters:
• Temp: 75–82 °F (24–28 °C)
• pH: 5.5–7.0 (soft, slightly acidic water ideal)
• Hardness: 2–10 dGH
• Setup: Sandy substrate, driftwood, caves, leaf litter, and dense plants. Provide multiple hiding spots to reduce aggression.

🔹 Tankmates

• Works with peaceful small fish: pencilfish, rasboras, tetras, corydoras, and peaceful dwarf gouramis.
• Avoid aggressive or overly boisterous species (barbs, large cichlids).

🔹 Diet

• Carnivore/insectivore.
• Thrives on frozen/live foods (brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia).
• Supplement with high-quality cichlid pellets and flakes.

🔹 Breeding

• Cave spawner. Female lays eggs in a hidden spot (cave, pot, under driftwood).
• Female guards eggs and fry fiercely, while male defends the territory.
• Fry feed on infusoria/very fine foods before moving to baby brine shrimp.

✨ Fun fact: The Gold Fire Red morph of A. agassizii is selectively bred for its intense golden body and blazing red/orange fins, making it one of the most visually stunning Apistogramma available.