Species Name: Apistogramma macmasteri

Common Names: Apisto macmasteri

Synonyms: None

Family: Cichlidae

Order: Perciformes

Class: Actinopterygii

Max Size: 3-5 cm / 1.5-2.0 inches

Environment: Fresh Water

Origin: These fish live in the clear water streams located in South America.

Temperament: The Apistogramma macmasteri is a very mellow Cichlid, displaying even temperament during breeding. It is a great show fish and can be the centrepiece of any aquarium. The perfect setup for this fish is a 20 gallon / 80L tank with a group of Neon Tetras and a trio of these fish. You could also keep them in a larger tank with community fish, and still do fine.

Company: They should be kept in breeding trios which is 1m/2f (3f also work well). There should be lots of hiding spots for the extra female when they breed.

Water Parameters: pH 6.4-7.1, temperature 23-28 ° C / 73-80 ° F

Aquarium Setup: The Apistogramma macmasteri tank should be setup with lots of driftwood, and some nice pieces of slate. There should also be lots of plants, preferably live. When setting up the aquarium, you should use sand as the substrate, as the macmasteri likes to sift through it, looking for food. The pH should stay low, and a CO2 system can be of help in the long run.

Feeding: When first getting your Apistogramma macmasteri it may be hard to wean them off of live foods like brine shrimp or black worms. You should keep trying until you can get them onto prepared foods, and then once you do this only feed live 2-3 times a week. Give them a varied diet

Breeding: The water should be acidic, 6.4 or lower to get these fish in the mood. When you first condition them, live foods should be given for a week straight. They are cave spawners, so many caves and caverns should be provided for this fish. The male protect the territory and the female the fry.