Apistogramma borellii are beautiful South American dwarf cichlids from waters south of the Amazon basin. They have been in the hobby for nearly a hundred years and are great aquarium fish. They are relatively peaceful, stay small at about 2 inches, and are not too demanding of water conditions.
Borellii are found further south compared to other Apistogramma species. They originate from southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina in tributaries of the Paraguay River and lower Parana River basin. As such Borellii prefer water temperatures on the slightly cooler side compared to most other Apistogrammas.
As with a lot of Apistos Borellii live in slow moving tributaries which are often partly shaded and usually have a sandy bottom.
Apistogramma Borellii are one of the smaller commonly available Apistogrammas in the aquarium hobby.
Apistogramma Borellii Profile
Origin: Southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina.
Size: Female up to 2 inches (5 cm). Male up to 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)
Minimum tank size: 15 or 20 gallons (55 or 75 litres) depending on setup and tank mates.
Tank region: Bottom region to bottom half of the tank.
Water temperature: 68 - 79 °F (20 - 26 °C)
Water conditions: PH between 5 to 7.5 is desirable. Soft water with a low TDS is preferred. Commercial bred varieties are less fussy.