Apistogramma eremnopyge · A218

Overview

Known in trade as A218 and under several strawberry or red-beard labels, Apistogramma eremnopyge has a dark mark low on the caudal peduncle in both sexes. Social management can be difficult: an isolated pair is not necessarily stable, and groups need substantial, well-divided space.

Distribution & habitat

Records lie in Loreto, northeastern Peru, in the Itaya and Nanay systems and farther south in the Tapiche drainage. Slow tributaries, creeks, and backwaters with leaf litter and very soft clear or black water are reported as likely habitat.

Aquarium setup

Use soft sand, wood, multiple cavities, and leaf litter to divide the aquarium into sheltered areas. Groups need considerably more space than the minimum for a pair. Subdued light and shade-tolerant or floating plants reduce exposure, while mature litter supports microorganisms for fry.

Use gentle established filtration and avoid immature aquariums. Maintain very soft acidic water with low carbonate hardness, using an appropriate soft-water source if needed, and prevent organic-waste fluctuations.

Diet & feeding

Members of the genus generally feed on small benthic invertebrates. Offer live or frozen Artemia, Daphnia, Moina, and bloodworms. Try small pellets gradually rather than assuming immediate acceptance of dry food.

Behaviour & compatibility

Avoid mixing it with other members of the genus; small dither fishes are a more suitable option. One account found pairs manageable only when other pairs remained visible in neighboring tanks, apparently diverting aggression. This is an observation rather than a universal rule. A spacious group with several males and up to roughly three females per male is generally favored.

Sexual dimorphism

Males are larger and more colorful, with longer fins, particularly the dorsal and anal.

Breeding

Eggs are attached inside cavities or crevices. Males defend persistent territories, sometimes tolerating several females but excluding rival males. Spawning commonly occurs at night or dawn, with about 50–150 eggs. The female tends the brood while the male patrols outside.

At 25 °C, eggs hatch in about two days and fry swim freely another five or six days later. They may initially need microscopic foods before taking Artemia nauplii. Excess warmth reduces fry survival. Females expel young after roughly four to eight weeks, although they may remain temporarily within the male’s wider territory.