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What are these little guys about?

becomming every popular. They are generally small cichlids that are popular due to their fins and coloration.

If you need help finding them, try looking on aquabid. They have a whole section for buying apistos.

Theres a flood of them on offer in the uk at the moment, agassiz, hongsloi's etc, I think the intention is good, a small manageable size, theyre offering them in pairs etc, but the trouble is most will be destined to die in beginners hands through lack of water quality or failing to compete in community. Most apisto's are great little fish, but in the hands of a novice theyll die. Just like the common brethren the rams, most of them are extremely sensitive to any ammonia or nitrite whatsoever, and most will die if the nitrate goes much over 20 ppm. They do all the usual pair bonding, getting aggressive etc, just like other bigger cichlids, but obviously theyre no threat except to small fish. They are great candidates for smallish (10- 15 gal) but excellently maintained species tanks for pairs and plants. No cycling tanks with these guys!