Apistogramma pertensis

By Pet Zone SD Team • October 2026

Overview

Apistogramma pertensis, the Amazon dwarf cichlid, is one of the most widely distributed species in the entire genus in the wild — yet one of the hardest to actually buy. John D. Haseman described it in 1911 (originally as Heterogramma taeniatum pertense, in a Carnegie Museum survey of South American cichlids) from the lower Rio Negro. FishBase's distribution data extends that range along the Amazon-Solimões mainstem from Manacapuru to Monte Alegre, and French aquarium reference FishiPedia adds the Tapajós River to the picture as well. That's a genuinely broad spread for an Apistogramma — most of the narrow-range species already covered on this site, like gibbiceps, mendezi, and diplotaenia, are confined to a single isolated blackwater drainage.

Despite that wide wild distribution, pertensis almost never shows up on a general retail stock list. It moves through the hobby mainly via experienced hobbyists and specialist breeders maintaining wild-origin lines, not through standard commercial channels — the opposite pattern from a species like cacatuoides, which is narrow in the wild but everywhere in the trade.

Color & Identification

Pertensis carries the typical Apistogramma body plan in miniature: a dark longitudinal stripe runs along the flank, set against an olive-to-tan base color, with the usual sexual dimorphism — males develop more color and finnage extension than the plainer females. It's a small fish even by apisto standards; at roughly 1.5" (3.9cm) standard length for males, it runs smaller than nano-tank staples like borellii and trifasciata. Some retailers list regional or locality-specific stock under trade names such as "Abacaxi" (Portuguese for pineapple); the origin of that particular name isn't documented in the sources checked for this guide, so treat it as a locality label rather than a meaningful identification clue.

Tank Setup

Pertensis doesn't need extreme blackwater chemistry to thrive — its parameters are closer to the genus's moderate middle than to specialists like baenschi or elizabethae — but it is a small fish that benefits from a calm, sheltered layout.

• Tank size: 15–20 gallons is workable for a pair given the species' small adult size; a harem arrangement with multiple females does better with 24" or more of length so subordinate females have room to hold their own space.
• Substrate: Fine sand works well and matches the slow-water, leaf-litter habitat this species comes from.
• Hardscape & planting: Driftwood, leaf litter, and dense low planting to break sightlines — standard Apistogramma territory-management setup, scaled down for a small species.
• Filtration: Gentle flow. This species comes from slow tributaries and floodplain pools, not fast-moving water.
• Water changes: Regular partial changes with soft, slightly acidified replacement water; see our water parameters guide for how to prepare and hold soft water reliably.

Feeding

Pertensis is a bottom feeder and does best on foods that sink rather than float — sinking flakes and granules form a reasonable staple, with live or frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp recommended for conditioning a breeding pair or group. See our general feeding guide for conditioning diets that apply across the genus.

Temperament & Compatibility

This is a peaceful, harem-compatible species: where no established pair exists, keeping one male with several females tends to work better than a single forced pair, since it spreads out territorial pressure. As with every species on this site, don't mix pertensis with other Apistogramma species, and choose calm dither fish that won't test a guarding female.

Breeding

Pertensis follows the genus's standard cave-spawning pattern — the female lays eggs on a hidden surface and guards them alone, while the male holds the outer territory. In practice, a small upturned plant pot or similar cave-like site works as a spawning surface. Condition the breeding group on live and frozen foods beforehand, and expect the female to take over fry-guarding duty once eggs hatch, in the same pattern described in our general breeding guide.

Sourcing Notes

This is the real challenge with pertensis: it's genuinely uncommon in the aquarium trade despite its wide natural range, and you won't typically find it at a general fish store. It moves mostly through hobbyist networks and specialist breeders working with wild-origin stock. If you do track it down, ask the seller about collection locality and rearing history, and see our general sourcing guide for vetting a seller on a species this uncommon.

Final Thoughts

Pertensis is an unusual case in this genus: mild, approachable water chemistry paired with real scarcity in the trade, rather than the more common pattern of extreme chemistry gatekeeping a species. If you already keep moderate-water apistos like macmasteri or agassizii and want something smaller and considerably harder to find, pertensis is worth seeking out through hobbyist breeder networks rather than a store shelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Apistogramma pertensis different from most other Apistogramma species?

Its range. FishBase documents pertensis across a long stretch of the lower Rio Negro and the Amazon-Solimões mainstem from Manacapuru to Monte Alegre, and other sources add the Tapajós as well — a genuinely wide distribution compared to many apistos on this site that are confined to a single isolated blackwater creek or tributary (gibbiceps, mendezi, and diplotaenia, for example). Despite that wide wild range, it's rarely offered in the aquarium trade; French retailer FishiPedia describes it as "très rare dans le commerce aquariophile" (very rare in the aquarium trade), kept mostly by experienced hobbyists breeding wild-origin stock rather than sold as a standard store item.

What water parameters does Apistogramma pertensis need?

Soft, slightly acidic water: pH 5.5–6.5, general hardness under 5 dGH, at 73–86°F (23–30°C). FishBase gives a baseline of pH 5.5+ and dH 5+ in the wild; specialist aquarium sources narrow the breeding-tank target to pH 6.0–6.5 with about 5 dH. This is noticeably less extreme than genus specialists like baenschi or uaupesi — the real obstacle with this species is finding it, not keeping it.

How big does Apistogramma pertensis get?

It's one of the smallest species in the genus: FishBase and planetcatfish.com independently converge on roughly 1.5" (3.9cm standard length) for males, with females slightly larger at up to 1.8" (4.5cm total length) — smaller even than nano-tank regulars like borellii and trifasciata. One French hobbyist retail source reports a much larger 2–2.75" (5–7cm) figure, but it's an outlier against the two independent scientific-reference sources used here.

Is Apistogramma pertensis endangered?

Sources disagree. FishBase lists a specific IUCN Red List assessment of Least Concern, dated 29 October 2020. A French aquarium retailer source instead marks the species "NE" (not evaluated). Since FishBase cites an exact assessment date rather than a generic unknown status, we treat Least Concern as the current and more reliable answer, consistent with the species' genuinely wide range across the Rio Negro and Amazon-Solimões mainstem.

Where can you buy Apistogramma pertensis?

Rarely, and mostly through hobbyists and specialist breeders working with wild-origin stock rather than general retail. It isn't a species you'll find on a standard store stock list. If you do find it offered, confirm the seller can speak to its collection locality, and see our sourcing guide for vetting a seller on an uncommon species.