Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid
Apistogramma borellii (Regan, 1906)
Also called Umbrella cichlid, Umbrella apisto, Yellow dwarf cichlid
From South America: the Paraguay River basin and lower Parana, reaching southern Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina and Uruguay.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Small dwarf cichlid
A tiny, neat cichlid; males are larger and more colourful, with tall, extended fins that open like a little umbrella.23
Personality what they are like
Peaceful for a cichlid; captive-bred fish settle well with calm, small community fish.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A bottom-to-midwater fish that stays near caves and plant cover in its small territory.21
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Provide caves and plants, keep the water clean, and add dried leaves such as Indian almond to mimic its natural waters.23
Home where they are happiest
Subtropical to tropical water of about 20 to 26 C, pH roughly 5 to 8 and 1-19 dGH, in a tank with a base of at least 45 x 30 cm (FishBase suggests 60 cm) for a pair.21
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Eats small worms, crustaceans and insects; feed live or frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworm alongside good pellets.12
Company who they like around
Kept as a pair or a male with females; suits gentle dither fish but not other Apistogramma in the same tank.12
The story where it all began
Charles Tate Regan described the species in 1906, naming it after the Italian zoologist Alfredo Borelli, who collected the first specimens. Because it lives further south than most Apistogramma, it is known for tolerating cooler water.13
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its scientific name honours zoologist Alfredo Borelli, who collected the type specimens.3
- 2
It lives further south than most of its genus, so it handles cooler water well.3
- 3
The female fans her eggs for about 36 hours until they hatch, then guards the young.3
- 4
The eggs, around 50 to 70 per spawning, are stuck to the ceiling of a cave.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 28 October 2020)1
- Taxonomy
- Described by Regan in 1906; family Cichlidae1
- DATZ A-number system
- Forms listed as A103-A105 and A2342
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Borelli's Dwarf Cichlid. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Apistogramma borellii fishbase.seused for distribution, size, water parameters, IUCN, breeding
- Seriously Fish: Apistogramma borellii seriouslyfish.comused for names, size, water parameters, tank size, diet, behaviour, forms
- Wikipedia: Apistogramma borellii en.wikipedia.orgused for etymology, names, temperature tolerance, breeding behaviour
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.