From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

a female Apistogramma nijsseni

Dwarf cichlid is a term used by fishkeeping hobbyists to describe an arbitrary assemblage of small-sized fish from the familiy Cichlidae. Although the grouping is widely used in the aquarium industry and hobby, the grouping has no taxonomic or ecological basis and is poorly defined.^[1] Dwarf cichlids are by definition small-sized cichlids, however, there is no accepted maximum length of a dwarf-sized cichlid. Some authors suggest a maximum of 10 centimetres (3.9 in.), while other suggest a maximum length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in.).^[1][2] The term is most frequently used to describe small South American or West African species which are suitable for soft, acidic (pH 4-7) densely planted aquariums,^[1] however, some aquarists and authors include within this "dwarf cichlid group" a variety of small-sized cichlids from the African rift lakes.^[2][3]

Despite being called dwarf cichlids, males of Pelvicachromis pulcher frequently exceed the maximum length of 12 centimetres.

Dwarf cichlids prefer aquaria with plenty of hard-leafed plants. They are generally shy, except when they're breeding, and are considered ideal for community tanks, though should not be placed with other, non-dwarf, cichlids.