Scientific name: Apistogramma D37/A. sp. ‘Kiemenfleck
Origin : A. sp. ‘Kiemenfleck’ were first discovered in February 2017 by MEJIA, CHRISTOFFERSEN, and VAN GENNE (Oldeberkoop, Netherlands) in a lagoon at the headwaters of the Rio Inirida.
Because of the many Moriche palms (Mauritia flexuosa) such lagoons or oases are called ‘Morichales’ by the natives. Due to the dry season, the water level was quite low and because of the lack in water exchange, there was hardly any water movement.
The slightly brown yet crystal clear water was very soft and quite acidic with a pH of 5.2. The water temperature was 28-29 °C. Small groups of A. sp. ‘Kiemenfleck’ mostly stayed in shaded places near the shore or hid in between the many water plants. A layer of leaf litter, often used by Apistogramma to hide from predators, wasn’t present in this habitat. Apart from about a dozen A. sp. ‘Kiemenfleck’, no other Apistogramma were found in this lake. In the shallow areas where they were mostly found, species of other genera were collected as well, namely Copella MYERS, 1956, Pyrrhulina VALENCIENNES, 1846, Nannostomus GÜNTHER, 1872, Melanocharacidium BUCKUP, 1993, Characidium REINHARDT, 1867, Hoplias GILL, 1903 and Laimosemion HUBER, 1999. In the deeper areas, some cichlids of the genera Aequidens EIGENMANN & BRAY, 1894, Crenicichla HECKEL, 1840 and Geophagus HECKEL, 1840 were lingering.
Difficulty in keeping: Medium
Maximum size: 7-9cm Males 5-6 cm Females
Selling size: 3-4 cm and above
Temperature: 22 – 29 °C (25°C preferred)
pH: 6-7.8 Our fish are bred and grown at a ph between 6.5 and 7.5
Diet: Primarily carnivorous and apparently feeds mostly on benthic invertebrates in nature. In the aquarium live and frozen foods such as Brine shrimp, Daphnia and Blackworms should be offered regularly although most specimens will also learn to accept dried alternatives with pelleted products generally preferred to flake.
Disclaimer: Photos are taken of our own fish and usually the breeding parents, photos are for reference only and actual fish you will receive might slightly vary.