Apistogramma bitaeniata “Red Back” (Apistogramma bitaeniata) Elegant, colourful and beautifully patterned, the Red Back form of Apistogramma bitaeniata is a stunning South American dwarf cichlid recognised for its elongated body, fine lateral markings and vibrant red colour developing across the upper body and dorsal region. Compact, intelligent and full of personality, this fish makes an exceptional feature species for planted and blackwater aquariums. Quick Facts Scientific name: Apistogramma bitaeniata Common name: Apistogramma bitaeniata Red Back Colour form: Red Back Origin: South America – Amazon Basin Adult male size: Approximately 7–8 cm Adult female size: Approximately 4–5 cm Tank size: 60L+ recommended for a pair Difficulty: 🟡 Moderate Temperament: Peaceful to territorial; more defensive when breeding Best kept: As a compatible pair or carefully managed breeding group Is this for you? ✔️ Perfect if: You enjoy colourful South American dwarf cichlids. You want an Apistogramma with elegant elongated finnage. You maintain a planted or blackwater-style aquarium. You enjoy observing pair bonding and breeding behaviour. You want a feature fish that stays relatively small. ❌ Avoid if: Your aquarium is newly established or unstable. You have no caves or sheltered territories. You keep aggressive bottom-dwelling species. You expect a completely non-territorial community fish. You keep small shrimp or fry that you want to reproduce successfully. Why choose Apistogramma bitaeniata “Red Back”? The Red Back form combines the elegant body shape of Apistogramma bitaeniata with warm red colouration developing across the upper body and dorsal area. Mature males display beautiful combinations of blue, yellow, red and iridescent tones, along with elongated dorsal and caudal finnage that creates a refined and graceful appearance. Females remain smaller and more subtly coloured but become bright yellow when breeding and develop the strong territorial behaviour typical of female Apistogramma guarding eggs or fry. Their compact size, inquisitive behaviour and striking colour make them ideal for aquarists who want something more specialised than a standard community fish. Benefits Beautiful red-backed colour form Elegant elongated body and finnage Compact dwarf cichlid size Excellent feature fish for planted aquariums Interesting pair-bonding behaviour Strong parental care Beautiful in blackwater and Amazon-style setups Care made simple Temperature: Approximately 24–28°C pH: Approximately 5.0–7.0 Water: Clean, stable and preferably soft Diet: Quality dwarf cichlid pellets supplemented with frozen and live foods Excellent foods: Brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms and other appropriately sized foods Substrate: Fine sand strongly preferred Setup: Driftwood, caves, plants, leaf litter and multiple visual barriers Provide more than one suitable cave when keeping a pair. Regular water changes help maintain strong colour and breeding condition. Pairs perfectly with Red Dwarf Pencilfish Ember Tetras Cardinal Tetras Otocinclus Other peaceful upper-water species NTA Insight: With Apistogramma bitaeniata, body shape and finnage are just as important as colour. Mature males can develop beautifully elongated fins, while the Red Back form adds a striking warm contrast through the dorsal region. Give them soft, clean water, fine sand, quality foods and dark natural surroundings and both colour and confidence can improve dramatically. FAQ What does “Red Back” mean? “Red Back” refers to a colour form or locality-style phenotype in which stronger red pigmentation develops across the upper body and dorsal region. The fish remains Apistogramma bitaeniata. How large does Apistogramma bitaeniata grow? Mature males generally reach around 7–8 cm, while females remain smaller at approximately 4–5 cm. Are males and females different? Yes. Males are generally larger, more colourful and develop more elaborate finnage. Females are smaller and become particularly bright yellow when breeding. Can I keep a pair together? Yes, provided the aquarium has enough space, caves and visual barriers. Two random individuals will not always form a compatible pair, so monitor aggression carefully. Are they aggressive? They are territorial rather than highly aggressive. Most aggression occurs around caves and increases when breeding. Do they need caves? Yes. Females use enclosed shelters as spawning sites, so ceramic caves, coconut shells or natural crevices are strongly recommended. What should I feed them? Offer quality dwarf cichlid foods supplemented with frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworms. A varied diet improves colour, body condition and breeding performance. Why is fine sand recommended? Apistogramma naturally interact with the substrate and often sift fine particles while searching for food. Fine sand allows this behaviour and reduces abrasion. Can they live with shrimp? Adult shrimp may sometimes coexist in heavily planted aquariums, but shrimplets and small shrimp should be considered potential prey. Can they live with Corydoras? They can coexist in sufficiently large aquariums, but both occupy the lower levels. Breeding females may aggressively defend caves from Corydoras that wander into their territory. Can Apistogramma bitaeniata breed in aquariums? Yes. They are cave-spawning dwarf cichlids. Females guard the eggs and later lead the fry through the aquarium while males defend the broader territory. What do the fry eat? Once free swimming, fry benefit from very small live foods. Newly hatched baby brine shrimp is particularly useful and supports rapid early growth. Are they suitable for beginners? We rate them as moderate. They are best suited to aquarists comfortable maintaining stable soft water, feeding a varied diet and managing territorial behaviour.
