Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid

Distribution:
   The Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid was described by Myers in 1935. They are found along the Amazon River to the Tapajos River as well as in the Amazon River basin in South America, Brazil. This little fish is found in the lower Negro River as well. They live in very soft acidic water, hiding in the dense coverage of rocks, roots, wood, and heavily overgrown vegetation. They eat insect larvae and other small live foods.
  This fish was first described in the Apistogramma genus as Apistogramma weisei, but later described in their own genus, Taeniacara.

Status:
   This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid is a small colorful and elongated fish. It has a more slender torpedo shaped body than other dwarf cichlids. The body has a base color of silver above a black horizontal stripe that runs from the head to just before the tail, though the stripe may be absent from some specimens. There is a slightly lighter silver/white on the belly in front of the anal fin. The fins are colored with blue, yellow, red, and brown. The male’s pelvic fins are especially long and his anal and dorsal fins are pointed. Males also have a large spade-shaped tail fin that extends into a point at the end. The female has shorter fins and is smaller with less intense coloring, yet is still a pretty little fish.
   All cichlids share a common feature that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have and that is a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth that are in the throat, along with their regular teeth. Cichlids have spiny rays in the back parts of the anal, dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins to help discourage predators. The front part of these fins are soft and perfect for precise positions and effortless movements in the water as opposed to fast swimming.
   Cichlids have one nostril on each side while other fish have 2 sets. To sense “smells” in the water, they suck water in and expel the water right back out after being “sampled” for a short or longer time, depending on how much the cichlid needs to “smell” the water. This feature is shared by saltwater damselfish and cichlids are thought to be closely related.

Size - Weight:
   The male grows to a length of just under 3” (7 cm), the female is smaller reaching about 2” (5 cm).

Care and feeding:
   The Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid is a carnivore that feeds on insect larvae and other small live foods in the wild. In the aquarium it can be fed newly hatched baby brine, frozen brine shrimp, freeze dried bloodworms, tubifex worms, and high quality flake food. This diet is especially easy to feed to tank bred Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlids. Wild caught specimens will have to be provided with a live diet until they accept prepared foods. Feed them chopped earthworm, blood worms and mosquito larvae. Feed 2 to 5 small pinches of food a day in smaller amounts rather than a large quantity once a day. This will keep the water quality higher over a longer time. All fish benefit from vitamins and supplements added to their foods.
   A minimum 30 gallon tank is suggested for a pair, with 55 gallons or more if in a mixed tank. They prefer slow to moderate moving water along with good efficient filtration. The aquarium should have a cover and low to moderate lighting. Provide a substrate of fine dark gravel along with rocks and pots to create plenty of caves. Caves formed from rockwork or including synthetics like coconuts or clay pots, will provide a refuge for the fish as well as a place for breeding. They do enjoy a densely planted aquarium. Floating plants help to diffuse lighting. If using live plants, dense plantings that will provide shade for your fish do need time to grow out. Amazon Swordplants, Vallisneria, Wisteria, and other acidic tolerant plants work great.
   The Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid is a rewarding specimen for the more experienced aquarist. It can be moderate to difficult to care for since water changes must be performed frequently. It does well in acidic water, needs the nitrate levels low, and the pH level must be kept within the correct parameters. A mature tank with soft water and a pH of acidic to neutral is best. Keep track of nitrates. Also, oxygen levels must be maintained for best color and health. When using substrate or rocks, be sure they do not leach into the water and affect the pH. Substrates such as limestone can increase the pH level, you would not use sand that is for marine tanks. Driftwood is a big help in keeping pH low and contributes to the “tea stained” coloring of the Amazon River.
   Do water changes of 30% to 50% biweekly or weekly, depending on stocking numbers. If water quality is ignored, as with all cichlids, disease and death can occur. One common problem is Ich. It can be treated with the elevation of the tank temperature to 86° F (30° C) for 3 days.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in the middle and bottom areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 0 - 15° dH
   Ph: 5.5 - 7.0 (6.0 is ideal, but 5.5 is needed for breeding)
   Temp: 74 - 83° F (23 - 28° C), at least 82° F (28° C) or more when breeding.

Social Behaviors:
   The Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid is a community fish that can be kept with other peaceful cichlids of similar size or smaller. Other small fish that swim primarily close to the surface, such as some of the Characins, can also make good tank mates. These other fish can serve another function as well, acting as 'dither' fish to draw the male's hostility away from the female. South American cichlids tend to be less aggressive than their African cousins, but space is very important. They are still a cichlid and are semi-aggressive, so they may not work well with non-cichlid tropical fish when spawning. They will work great with dwarf cichlids of the Apistogramma genus in a large enough tank, provide at least 55 gallons in this mixed situation.
   They can be kept alone. They may also be kept in pairs in a larger tank, such as a 55 gallon. Having others in the tank helps the female to develop more of a maternal instinct, she may be a little more protective of the fry. If there is no threat, a female will not guard her young with the normal gusto. As the parents share this “guarding” of the fry, it also helps to strengthen their bond.

Sexual Differences:
   Males are larger with more coloring and longer appendages on the fins, especially the extended middle of the tail fin.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlids are cave spawners. They appreciate upturned flowerpots, fake “coconut caves,” bogwood, and broad leafed plants for cover and as spawning sites. They need to have a pH around 5.5 to spawn. As with other dwarfs, this lower pH may also be needed for the eggs to hatch. Basically the more acidic and soft, the happier they are, with 0 hardness being ideal. Some use rainwater or phosphoric acid to lower the pH. If using acid, do it in a bucket and leave it for a few days, do not put it directly in the tank.
   Obtain 6 juveniles and let them grow up together. From this there will be at least one pair. You may or may not decide to remove the others, depending on your tank size. Condition them with meaty foods like white worms, mosquito larvae, blood worms, and even clean chopped earth worms every day.
   The female will become heavy with eggs and will pick a spawning spot. She will lay 60 to 90 eggs on the surface of her chosen site. The male will fertilize them and promptly leave the cave to patrol on the outside. The female will actually turn yellow and black during this brooding period and keep popping her head out to make sure the coast is clear. The eggs will hatch in 48 to 60 hours at a temperature of 82° F (28° C). After 7 days the fry will follow her out and start grazing on algae in the tank. The male will keep other fish at bay when the family is out. The female will stay above the fry and flick her fins to signal to her young. If during this time other fish in the tank are too terrorized to eat, you may need to remove them.
   The fry will eat newly hatched brine shrimp and microworms and should be fed every day, several times a day. The fry grow fast. In one month, if the water is kept clean and they are fed well, they can get up to 3/8". In two months they can be over 1/2”, which is half of the adult size of a female. See more about cichlid breeding in: Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Buy Black Stripe Dwarf Cichlid (pair) From LiveAquaria.com

Availability:
   The Black-Stripe Dwarf Cichlid is often available online starting at about $50.00 USD or $100.00 USD for a pair. They are a rare find in fish stores, but can usually be special ordered if you are willing to wait.

Author: Carrie McBirney
Additional Information: Clarice Brough, CFS