Apistogramma Borellii
Apistogramma borellii
Also known as Yellow Dwarf Cichlid, Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A small, cool-tolerant dwarf cichlid with a golden head and a tall, fanned dorsal fin. Captive-raised fish suit a community with small schooling dither fish, while wild fish do better alone. Provide caves and cover, and do not mix it with other dwarf cichlids in small tanks.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 11 US gal
- Footprint
- 18 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 68–79 °F
- pH
- 5–8
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Swim zone
- Bottom
- Min group
- 2 or more
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
Apistogramma Borellii tank mates and swim zone
Bottom
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Paracheirodon innesi
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Boraras brigittae
Chili Rasbora is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Apistogramma Borellii.
Danio margaritatus
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Apistogramma Borellii.
Poecilia wingei
Endler's Livebearer is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Apistogramma Borellii.
Betta splendens
Betta often does best alone. Only try this in a larger, planted tank, and watch closely.
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Melanotaenia boesemani
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Carassius auratus
Goldfish suit cooler water and are not suited to tropical tanks, so Apistogramma Borellii is a poor match.
Neocaridina davidi
Apistogramma Borellii will usually eat small shrimp like Red Cherry Shrimp.
Caridina multidentata
Apistogramma Borellii will usually eat small shrimp like Amano Shrimp.
Apistogramma Borellii feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed sinking micro pellets and small frozen foods.
- Offer live or frozen bloodworm and daphnia, because it is mostly carnivorous.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Males are larger, more colorful and have much longer fins. Females are smaller and turn bright yellow when guarding fry.
Apistogramma Borellii care mistakes to avoid
- Plan for a pair, and read up on sexing before you buy so you do not end up with two rival males.
- Do not mix with other dwarf cichlids in a small tank. They will fight for territory.
- Add caves and cover, since it holds territory near the bottom.
- Buy captive-raised fish. Wild examples are much less suited to a community.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 11 US gallons.
Apistogramma Borellii tank setup
The essentials for a small, gently filtered tank.
TankAt least 11 US gal (41 L), 45 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Apistogramma Borellii. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 10-Gallon Fish Tank: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Apistogramma Borellii, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Apistogramma Borellii's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 54 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterAir-driven sponge filter
Gentle flow that small fish and long fins can handle, plus a safe home for good bacteria.
Aquarium Co-Op Coarse Sponge Filter (Small) US
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter US
Tetra Brillant Filter Spain
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 10-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 68–79 °F (20–26 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 25 W at 5 gallons, 50 W at 10. Keeps a small tank stable. Adjustable models let you set the temperature your species needs. Size up for a cold room.
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater US
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 50 W US
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater Spain
Eheim Thermocontrol e 50 Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 10-Gallon Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateUnfussy about decor if it has cover; a soft sandy substrate suits a natural look.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorNeeds adequate cover: flowerpots, piping, wood forming caves, dried leaves and floating plants.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Apistogramma Borellii
We have not found a store that sells Apistogramma Borellii under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Apistogramma Borellii FAQ
What size tank do Apistogramma Borellii need?
Our sourced minimum is 11 US gallons (41 liters), with a footprint of 45 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Apistogramma Borellii should I keep?
A pair works well. Add more only if the tank is large enough for each fish to claim its own space.
What can live with Apistogramma Borellii?
Good matches on our list include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra and Ember Tetra. Avoid German Blue Ram and Boesemani Rainbowfish.
How long do Apistogramma Borellii live?
Lifespan is not well documented for this species. Stable water and a good diet help any animal live longer.
Are apistogrammas good for beginners?
They suit a keeper with some experience. They do well once settled, but need stable water, caves, and careful choice of tank mates.
Apistogramma Borellii facts and sources
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Native to
- Paraguay and Uruguay river basins
- Adult size
- 2.6 in (6.5 cm)
- Temperament
- Semi-Aggressive
- Social needs
- Harem/Pairs
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Fine Sand Required
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Will Eat Shrimp
- Fin nipping
- Low
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Moderate
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.