Description
Borelli's dwarf cichlid, also called umbrella or yellow dwarf cichlid, is among the apistogrammas most tolerant of temperature: it tolerates 20 to 26 °C. The male reaches about 6.5 cm, yellow with a bluish dorsal fin; the female is smaller and yellow.
It lives in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. Many colour forms have been bred, and captive-raised fish are the recommended choice for a community tank.
Behavior
It is the most tolerant of the three towards its surroundings, but territorial among its own. For the community tank it is best to choose captive-raised fish; wild ones do better alone or with small surface fish, such as Nannostomus, that ease their fear.
It lives well with small tetras, rasboras and pygmy corydoras.
Avoid housing it with other apistogrammas and with bottom-dwelling dwarf cichlids in small tanks.
Habitat
Apistogramma borellii lives in creeks and tributaries of the Paraguay river, the lower Paraná and the Uruguay system. It tolerates 20-26 °C, a wider temperature span than other apistogrammas.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
It spawns in cavities among the décor and the female guards the clutch; in small tanks she may attack the male.
Numerous ornamental forms have been bred, and the species carries the code A234 in the DATZ system.
Diet
A micropredator that hunts invertebrates on the bottom.
- Staple: sinking micropellets.
- Essential: live or frozen food several times a week.
Large pieces are hard for it to swallow, so everything should be small.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 21–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–6.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 20–22 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–8 and 21–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–6.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–8 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 20–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
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They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Apistogramma borellii. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives pH 6-8, 5-19 dH and only 24-25 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 5-8, 1-15 dGH and 20-26 °C. The profile uses the widest range. Size: 3.9 cm SL in FishBase and 6.5 cm for the male in Seriously Fish; the larger is taken.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.