In this article we will discuss apistogramma agassizi fire red .We will discuss everything about them from their habitat information, tank size,water parameters,feeding habitat,breeding behavior,diets and other parameters too.
Overview
In this blog
- Key specifications of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Apistogramma agassizi fire red habitat information
- General characteristics of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Tank size of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Water parameters of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Tank mates of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Tank plants for apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Substrate for apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Feeding habits of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Behavior of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Breeding of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Summary
- Frequently asked questions
- Reference
What are the characteristics of apistogramma agassizi fire red?
Key specifications of apistogramma agassizi fire red
| Scientific name | Apistogramma agassizii |
| Other names | Agassiz Zwergbuntbarsch |
| Habitat | South America |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Temperament | Territorial |
| Life span | Five years |
| Conservation status | Aquarium reared,so not listed |
Apistogramma agassizi fire red habitat information
Origin: Apistogramma agassizi fire red are aquarium-reared, but their cousins are native to South America.
It is found in many southern tributaries of the Amazon river.Their name honors the Swiss American zoologist and geologist Louis Agassiz.
General characteristics of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Colorful variety with bright red fins and golden pink body.
- Sexual dimporphism is prominent in fire red.
- Adult males have beautiful red finnage with glowing yellow and pink coloration across the body.
- Adult females are less colorful but females with this variant are more colorful than many others.
- Average size for adult males is 3 inches or 7.5 cm in length.
- Average size for adult females is 2 inches or 5 cm in length.
- Males have long fins and are slightly larger and thinner than females. The female has a small and plump abdomen and short fins.
Tank size of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- It requires a lot of open space.Biggers and spacious tanks are always better to house these fire reds.
- Minimum aquarium size:They require a 20 gallons aquarium per pair, but a larger aquarium is required for groups.
- Avoid overcrowding,as it causes stress and is also the reason for their aggressive behavior.More the space less will be the aggression.
- They are bottom dwellers and occupy the bottom levels of the aquarium.
Water parameters of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Aquarium water temperature: 72-84°F or 22-29°C
- Aquarium water pH: 5.0-7.0 for aquarium grown specimens.
- KG (potassium hydride value): It should be between 2 – 15 KG
- Water quality should be monitored on a daily basis with the help of a good quality aquarium water testing kits and pH testing strips.
- This will help you to know the organic pollutants levels and you can control those levels if you are religiously keeping a note of their levels.Dirty water or bad water chemistry can make them sick.
- Make sure the aquarium water temperature is also monitored regularly with a thermometer to maintain their ideal pH for their survival and growth.
- Temperature fluctuations or sudden drops in water temperature can make their health worse & sometimes it could be detrimental to.This should be maintained too without fail to avoid such conditions.
- An efficient filtration system will filter out all the waste from the aquarium.Use a gentle flow filtration system to keep them happy.
- Water changes should be done either weekly or biweekly to avoid ammonia buildup in the aquarium.
Tank mates of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Compatible with other peaceful fish if it has enough space.
- In a large enough aquarium, larger shrimp and snails may make great companions.
- They occupy the bottom part of the tank and can be kept with calm fish who occupy the other levels of the aquarium.
- Avoid larger aggressive species,because of their small size, these fish quickly become targets. It is best to keep more than one in the aquarium.
- It is better to keep more than one apistogramma in the aquarium. Preferably more females,as males tend to show signs of aggression.
- Common variations are to keep bonded pairs together, or to create harems of several females and one male.
Tank plants for apistogramma agassizi fire red
Best suited for planted tanks.Plants like water lilies, reeds, lotuses, and primroses are kept in pots and submerged to the appropriate depth.
Plants like hyacinths float, their roots free to absorb nutrients. Water hyacinths are effective filters if they float in 6 to 8 inches of water and the water flows past their roots.
Substrate for apistogramma agassizi fire red
Prefer sandy substrate with many hiding places such as clay pots, driftwood and rock formations.Sand is an ideal substrate for bottom-feeders or soft-bellied fish.
Sand is better because the waste does not settle in it or get stuck in it, which makes it easier to clean up the waste. However, on the other hand, the sand can become churned up, create a mess and get into the filters.
Combined with a good filtration system, sand is the cleanest substrate of all. Sand compresses itself and food particles cannot penetrate the surface.
Sand as a substrate provides a more natural habitat for many species and bottom dwellers or feeders.
Feeding habits of apistogramma agassizi fire red
They are carnivorous and for optimal health and coloring, they need plenty of proteins and a variety of high quality dried, frozen and live meat foods.
They can eat a variety of foods, including fresh products and purchased in stores.Feeding a balanced diet provides a lot of nutrients, so it is advisable to serve fresh food with regular pellets and flakes.
Foods from your kitchen like lettuce, broccoli, beans, cucumbers, nori etc can be given to them. All of these green vegetables are great for health and are a substitute for algae in an artificial aquarium environment.
There are many ways to feed them these foods. Chop finely and wash or puree and freeze into a cube.
They should be fed small amounts 3-4 times a day.Overfeeding is harmful for their health and even for water parameters.It should be avoided at all cost.
If you are going on vacations or excursions then you can use automatic fish feeders to feed them.Make sure you are not starving them,as they will die out of hunger.
You can fast your fish if you want,but you should consult the fire reds enthusiasts first before fasting them.
Although fasting a fish is not harmful at all,because it removes all the toxins from the body and clears the digestive system.
Behavior of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Roughly gather in groups.
- Semi-aggressive but shows aggression occasionally.
- Males become territorial when attempting to lay eggs, and females provide great protection for eggs during spawning.
- Active and shy in nature.Likes to hide in the aquarium.
- They need a cave set-up for hiding and breeding purposes.
- Bottom diggers and don’t feel good in bare bottom tanks.
- Curious one with tons of personality.
- They like to interact with their owners.
Breeding of apistogramma agassizi fire red
- Territorial consciousness usually peaks during spawning.
- If spawning is desired, tankmates of other species should be minimized or completely avoided.
- They prefer slightly acidic or neutral water chemistry and pH range between 6.0-7.0 but do not need particularly mild breeding conditions.
- The female puts the male in a cave to fertilize the egg and drive it away.
- The female lays up to 80 eggs on the roof of the cave, and she spends 2-5 days guarding the cave and taking care of the eggs until they are ready to hatch.
- When the fry hatch, she pulls them out of the cave and looks for food.
- Females constantly fan out their eggs to protect them, are extremely intolerant of males and other fish while they are with them, and aggressively attack them to keep them away.
- Eggs will come out in 3-4 days, depending on temperature, and females will continue to protect them.
| Breeding conditions for agassizi fire redAquarium water pH of 6.0 to 6.5 or 7.0Degree of water hardness of 5 – 8 dH Aquarium water temperature of 79° to 84° F or 26° – 29° C Frequent water changes is required |
Summary
- Agassizi fire red has a very beautiful color scheme.
- Hardy species with plenty of personality.
- Can breed easily in aquarium conditions.
- Thrive well in spacious aquariums and compatible with peaceful species.
- Agassizi fire red don’t mind being kept with ornamental plants in their aquarium.
- Water parameters should be checked regularly to avoid ammonia pollution.
- Agassizi fire needs live plants and plant matter to be healthy.
- Great addition to your aquarium.
Frequently asked questions
Which tank mates should never be housed with fire red agassizi?
Dwarf shrimp and other small, delicate invertebrates should never be housed with the fire red agassizi in the same aquarium.
What is the purchase size of apistogramma agassizi fire red in pet shops?
The average purchase size of apistogramma agassizi fire red is 1.5-2 inches or 3.8-5.1 cm in length.
Can apistogramma agassizi fire red live with blue rams in the same aquarium?
They will be territorial with blue rams and will occasionally chase them too.So,it would be better to not keep them together in similar aquariums.
Can apistogramma agassizi fire red live with angelfish in the same aquarium?
Yes,they both can peacefully coexist with each other in the same aquarium.
What ratio should be maintained to keep agassizi fire red together?
The ratio of one male and two female fire reds should be maintained. This will reduce aggression and other fights.
