Apistogramma uaupesi

By Pet Zone SD Team • October 2026

Overview

Apistogramma uaupesi is an upper-Rio-Negro blackwater dwarf cichlid best known for the male's deeply forked, lyre-shaped tail and enlarged sailfin dorsal — and for being the genus's most frequent mislabeling match for its close relative, A. iniridae. Sven Kullander described the species in 1980, a year after he described iniridae, as part of the same run of Orinoco/upper-Rio-Negro Apistogramma work that reshaped the genus's taxonomy that decade — cichlidae.com in fact classifies both species within the same "iniridae" species group, so the resemblance isn't just cosmetic. The name refers to the Rio Uaupés, a Rio Negro tributary straddling the Brazil–Colombia border where the species was collected.

Older German-trade names for this fish — Rotkeil-Apistogramma ("red-wedge apisto") and Blutkehl-Apistogramma ("blood-throat apisto") — describe throat and flank markings rather than the tail, and predate wider recognition of the lyre-tail as the species' real identifying feature. It remains genuinely uncommon in the hobby: one major European wholesaler that carries it, Aquarium Glaser, sells it strictly to the trade rather than to individual keepers.

Color & Identification

Body coloration varies considerably by collection locality, running from metallic blue and turquoise through to red, and according to Aquarium Glaser these color forms turn up together in wild populations rather than mapping cleanly onto separate localities. A broad, dark longitudinal band often runs along the flank — the feature behind the older "blood-throat" trade name. The standout feature, though, is the male's finnage: an enlarged, sail-like dorsal fin paired with a deeply forked caudal fin drawn out into thread-like tips, giving the tail a lyre shape that's the clearest way to distinguish this species from iniridae's more evenly rounded tail. Females are plain clay-colored outside of breeding, in the usual Apistogramma pattern, but turn bright yellow with black facial and pelvic-fin markings while guarding a brood.

Tank Setup

This is genus-extreme blackwater chemistry, so plan the tank around water softness and acidity first, and around the male's sailfin display space second.

• Tank size: At least 26 gallons (around 100L) with a 32"+ long footprint; a harem setup with one male and multiple females needs 48" (120cm) or more so subordinate females can hold their own territory.
• Substrate: Fine, dark substrate; leaf litter and driftwood tannins help replicate the blackwater chemistry this species needs and suit its natural flooded-forest-edge habitat.
• Hardscape & planting: Dense planting, driftwood, and broken sightlines, matching the cover a brooding female needs to keep rivals and the male at a distance.
• Filtration: Gentle flow — this species comes from shaded, slow-flowing streams, not fast water.
• Water changes: Frequent partial changes with pre-softened, acidified replacement water (RO/DI cut with a buffer, or genuine blackwater prep). Ordinary tap water will drift this tank's chemistry out of range fast; see our water parameters guide for how to prepare and hold soft, acidic water reliably.

Feeding

Uaupesi is carnivorous and does best on live and frozen foods — brine shrimp (Artemia) nauplii, cyclops, daphnia, and white or black mosquito larvae all work well. One specific caution from German specialist retailer aquarium-dietzenbach.de: avoid red mosquito larvae and tubifex, which this species tolerates poorly, and offer fine meaty granules only occasionally rather than as a diet staple. See our general feeding guide for conditioning diets that apply across the genus.

Temperament & Compatibility

Uaupesi is a harem breeder — one male with two or three females does better than a single pair, since it spreads out the female-on-female aggression that shows up once a female starts guarding a brood. Males settle rival disputes through sailfin-dorsal displays rather than serious fighting. As with every species on this site, don't mix uaupesi with other Apistogramma species, and keep tankmates to calm dither fish that won't test a guarding female's patience. Because the water this species needs is so soft and acidic, tankmate choice is also constrained by chemistry — stick to other genuine blackwater species rather than anything needing moderate or hard water.

Breeding

Uaupesi follows the standard Apistogramma cave-spawning pattern: the female attaches eggs to the ceiling or walls of a narrow cave and guards them alone, while the male patrols the outer territory and is driven off if he gets too close to the brood. Once fry become free-swimming, the yellow-colored female leads the school around the tank. Fry need newly hatched Artemia nauplii as a first food and very clean, stable water — this species doesn't tolerate chemistry swings any better as fry than as adults. In a harem setup, expect only the dominant, actively spawning female to tolerate the male closely; give subordinate females their own territory well away from her cave, using the same broken-sightline layout described under Tank Setup. See our general breeding guide for why territory layout matters as much as water chemistry once fry are on the ground.

Sourcing Notes

Uaupesi moves through specialist and wholesale channels rather than general retail. Aquarium Glaser, one of the larger European wholesale suppliers that carries it, sells exclusively to the trade — not to individual hobbyists — which is typical of how this species reaches keepers at all: through a local shop or breeder who sources from a specialist importer, not off a standard stock list. Given the real risk of mislabeling against iniridae, ask for a clear photo of the tail before committing, and see our general sourcing guide for vetting a seller on a species this uncommon.

Final Thoughts

Uaupesi rewards keepers who already have soft, acidic water chemistry dialed in and want a dramatic male display fish to go with it — the sailfin dorsal and lyre tail are genuinely striking, and the color variation between metallic blue, turquoise, and red individuals makes a small group visually interesting even outside of breeding. It's not a species to attempt on tap water, and it's not one you'll stumble across at a general fish store. If you already keep iniridae and have the water chemistry for it, uaupesi is the natural next species to specifically seek out from a dedicated importer — just confirm the tail shape at the point of sale so you know which of the two you're actually getting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Apistogramma uaupesi and Apistogramma iniridae?

They're close relatives — cichlidae.com classifies both within the same "iniridae" species group — and are the genus's most common mislabeling pair. The clearest visible difference is the tail: uaupesi carries a lyre-shaped caudal fin, deeply forked with thread-like extensions at the tips, while iniridae's stays more evenly rounded. Both come from the general Orinoco/upper-Rio-Negro region, which is part of why sellers occasionally ship one under the other's name. Ask for a clear photo of the tail shape before buying either.

What water parameters does Apistogramma uaupesi need?

Soft, acidic blackwater: pH 4.0–6.5 (aim for 4.5–5.5), general hardness under 5 dGH with carbonate hardness near 0–2 dKH, at 75–86°F (24–30°C). This is genus-extreme chemistry on par with baenschi and elizabethae — don't attempt it with ordinary tap water unless you're set up to soften and acidify it reliably.

How big does Apistogramma uaupesi get?

Males run roughly 2.5–3.5 inches (6–9cm) total length; females are noticeably smaller, around 1.5–2 inches (4–5cm) — the usual Apistogramma pattern of a larger, more colorful male. Independent aquarium references converge on this range; one French hobbyist source reports larger figures and a much narrower pH band, but it's an outlier against the German- and specialist-sourced data used here.

Is Apistogramma uaupesi endangered?

It has not been formally evaluated by the IUCN Red List, so there's no official conservation status to report either way — unlike its close relative iniridae, which does carry a Vulnerable assessment. That's not the same as confirmed safe; it just means no assessment exists yet.

Where can you buy Apistogramma uaupesi?

Rarely, and generally only through specialist importers. At least one major European wholesaler that stocks it sells strictly to the trade, not to individual hobbyists, and general retail sources describe it as uncommon. If you find it offered directly to hobbyists, double-check the tail shape against iniridae before buying, and see our sourcing guide for vetting a seller on an uncommon species.