Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Cichlids > Dwarf Cichlids - American > Panda Dwarf Cichlid

   The name of the Panda Dwarf Cichlid comes from the unique 'panda' color pattern seen on the female!

  The Panda Dwarf Cichlid male and female are both very pretty and the female is exceptional within the Apistogramma genus with her coloring. She is primarily yellow but with a black 'panda' type patterning on her body. With a pair of these attractive cichlids you also get that cool cichlid personality, only it's in a small package. Watching them share the raising of their fry is quite a site and their small size makes them more manageable than many of the other cichlid species. They are a great choice for a more advanced enthusiast who has limited space and cannot provide a large aquarium.

  The Panda Dwarf Cichlid can be kept in a community tank with non cichlids and smaller fish. Fish that are not large and aggressive and swim primarily close to the surface will make the best tank mates. Provide a substrate of small dark gravel along with rocks and pots to create plenty of caves, one for each female's territory. They do enjoy densely planted aquariums and floating plants will help to diffuse the lighting. Make areas for them to “defend” by having natural divisions in the aquascaping.

  This colorful dwarf is 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 wild Panda Dwarf Cichlid is more sensitive than a tank bred specimen. Breeding wild caught specimens with captive bred helps to keep the lines healthier. If water quality is ignored, as with all cichlids, disease and death can occur. Just a little dedication will reap pleasurable results from this little fish.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Panda Dwarf Cichlid was described by Kullander in 1979. They are found in the Amazon River basin in South America, in the Carahuayte River drainage area that is a tributary to the Ucayali River. They live among vegetation in these black-water creeks.

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

Description:
   The Panda Dwarf Cichlid is a small colorful fish, with the male being stocky and sporting an array of colors. The basic coloration is a blue through the center area and near the dorsal fin. Along the back are several black “background” blotches that extend from the head to the tail fin, with one dot right in the middle of the caudal area. They have a silvery blue sheen in between the blotches that extends down a little in some areas. The belly is yellow as is the anal fin and most of the tail fin. The tail fin is trimmed at the edges, going from the yellow to a blue, to a black, and then ending in a red edging. The females are mostly yellow with several black blotches on the body that give them the “panda” name. One black blotch is under her eye and extends to the gill covering. Another is in the middle front and a third at the caudal fin area in the middle, but leaching into the tail fin. The dorsal has a black blotch on the first several rays and the pelvic fin has black as well. Her tail fin is a drab yellow/gray color with the edge trimmed in an orange/yellow color. They can live up to 5 years.
   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 3” (7.5 cm), females are smaller reaching about 1 3/4” (4.5 cm).

Care and feeding:
   The Panda Dwarf Cichlid is a carnivore that can be fed newly hatched baby brine, frozen brine shrimp, crustaceans, insects, insect larvae, and some may eat flakes and pelleted foods. 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. 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 small dark gravel along with rocks and pots to create plenty of caves, one for each female's territory. 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 densely planted aquariums. 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, and other acidic tolerating plants work great, as can Wisteria. Make areas for them to “defend” by having natural divisions in the aquascaping.
   The Panda 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 10% to 20% biweekly or weekly, more or less 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.

  The wild Panda Dwarf Cichlid is more sensitive than captive bred specimens. If purchasing a wild specimen, quarantine procedures should be followed. Be aware of the following diseases that are found in the Amazon (per fishbase.org):

• White spot Disease, Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
• Costia Disease, Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
• Turbidity of the Skin (Freshwater fish), Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
• Bacterial Infections (general), Bacterial diseases
• Cestoda infestation, Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
• Ichthyobodo Infection, Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
• Metacercaria Infection (Flatworms), Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

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

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   These fish may be slowly adapted to more alkaline, slightly harder water, but they will not be able to hatch eggs in this water.
   Hardness: 2 - 10° dH
   Ph: 5.0 - 7.0
   Temp: 73 - 86° F (23 - 30° C)

Social Behaviors:
   The Panda Dwarf Cichlid is a community fish that can be kept with non cichlids. They can also be kept with other Apistogramma dwarf cichlids and will be peaceful if male has females to tend to. Fish that are not large and aggressive and swim primarily close to the surface will make the best tank mates. South American cichlids tend to be less aggressive than their African cousins, but space is very important. Some acceptable tank mates are Cardinal Tetras, Otocinclus Catfish, Julii Cory, Three-Line Pencilfish, Glowlight Rasbora (Hengel's), Dwarf Gourami, Kuhli Loach, and Dwarf Rainbowfish (Neon). Do not keep Coryadoras catfish with breeding pairs, since they will eat the fry.
   They can be kept in harems of one male with 3 or 4 females. More than one male may be kept if the aquarium is large. Keeping a male by himself with no females will cause him to attack other inhabitants.

Sexual Differences:
   Males are larger and have more of a blue sheen to their body, with some reds and a yellow belly. The smaller females are yellow with black blotches.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Panda Dwarf Cichlids are cave spawners. They appreciate upturned flowerpots, fake “coconut caves,” bogwood, and broad leafed plants for cover and as spawning sites. They do need to have a pH of 6.0 to 6.5, a water hardness of 5 - 8 dH, and a temperature of 79° to 84° F (26° - 29° C) with frequent water changes.
   They should be kept in a harem of one male to at least 3 females. The female will approach the male, curve her body, and display to catch his attention. When he sees her, he will then “dance” by flashing his fins. The female will lay oval eggs on the roof surface of her cave. The male will fertilize them and then promptly leave the cave to patrol on the outside. The female and male will then care for the eggs which will hatch in for 3 to 4 days, depending on water temperature. The fry are free swimming a few days after hatching. Both parents will guard the fry together and watch over them carefully. After a month the female will chase them out of her territory. The male will continue to watch them for one more week and then they are on their own. If there are several females, the male may fertilize other female’s eggs and let her care for them on her own. This depends also on the males personality, as to which batch of fry he will tend to.
   The fry can be fed liquid foods and rotifers and in a week or two then fed artemia nauplii 3 times a day. They can also be fed live freshly hatched baby brine shrimp 3 times a day. Sexing is pretty easy since males have the red in their tail fin and the females are yellow. Do not have Coryadoras catfish in your tank. They will eat the cichlid fry at the same time as they feed on the foods that you are giving to the cichlid fry.
   What works for the Cockatoo Cichlid may be true for the Panda Dwarf Cichlid as well. It has been stated that for the Cockatoo Cichlid if the water temperature is low (68° F or 20° C) most of the fry will be females, while with higher temperatures (86° F or 30° C) the fry will mostly be male. pH also plays a role in the sex of the fry, but to a much less extent. These conditions must also be kept constant for the first 3 weeks to be effective. See more about cichlid breeding in: Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Buy Panda Dwarf Cichlid (pair) From LiveAquaria.com

Availability:
   The Panda Dwarf Cichlid is often available online starting at about $25.00 USD or $50.00 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

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