New Apistogramma Species

[Calilasseia]

The magazine Practical Fishkeeping here in the UK has announced the discovery of two new Apistogramma species. The first of these, Apistogramma salpinction, is a 'typical' species in terms of habitat and feeding, and is said to be a member of the cacatuoides group. However, it is the other species which is the principal focus of my interest.

Apistogramma angayuara is described as the smallest Cichlid known to science - it attains a maximum SL of just 24 mm. It is also rheophilic (lives in fast flowing waters) and described as being a feeder upon rhizopods.

My interest in this species is simple - if this fish genuinely DOES grow to no more than 24 mm SL, then this would make it the ideal dwarf Cichlid for a modest sized aquarium. As the species has only recently been described, I suspect that knowledge of its aquarium compatibility has yet to be alighted upon, but just on the offchance that someone here among the Cichlid experts has actually obtained this species, can they provide me with some basic information? Only the prospect of a Cichlid small enough to live in a 24"x12"x12" aquarium is exciting to say the least!

I suspect also (sigh) that it will be some years before this little gem hits the UK hobby, and will be ferociously expensive when it does ... but that's another topic altogether!

Any assistance will be welcome on this subject!

[Pam Chin]

Hi Calilasseia,

Wow, that is very interesting! I have not heard about this at all, but it is not surprising since we are usually way behind Europe and the UK when it comes to new cichlids. I encourage you to ask your question in a couple of other forums where hopefully you will find more information. First off the Cichlid Room Companion Forum, where notable cichlid keepers are hanging out these days from Europe, the UK, as well as the US.

http://www.cichlidae.info/phpBB2/index.php

2nd - The Krib, which is where a lot of dwarf cichlid people hang out.

http://www.thekrib.com

3rd - another dwarf cichlid hang out:

http://www.apitsogramma.com


Good Luck, and I hope you can find some to keep!

Cichlid Power!
Pam