Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma borellii
The Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma borellii) is a peaceful fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 60 litres (16 US gallons), water held at 75-82°F, and a pH of 6-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America (Paraguay/Brazil)
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid Tank Setup
Give them at least 60 litres (16 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 75-82°F and a pH around 6-7.5.
What Do Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids Eat?
They have small mouths, so stick to small foods: crushed flake, fine granules, and now and then a treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Anything too large simply gets ignored.
Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid Tank Mates
One of the more peaceful Apistogramma; still territorial when breeding. Provide caves and leaf litter. Soft, slightly acidic water preferred. Keep one male with two or more females. The Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids Good for Beginners?
Doable once you test water regularly and catch problems before fish look sick. If this is your first tank, pick something more forgiving and come back later.
Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids need?
Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids need a tank of at least 60 litres (16 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids need?
Keep them at 75-82°F with a pH of 6-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids eat?
Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids have small mouths, so they need small foods. Crushed flake and fine granules form the staple, with the occasional treat of frozen or live foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids good for beginners?
Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Borelli's Dwarf Cichlids
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Serpae TetraFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
- Tiger BarbFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
