Sex
Price
Regular price $5700
Regular price Sale price $5700
Save $-57
/
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Panduro Apistogramma

Panduro Apistogramma (Apistogramma panduro) is a strikingly beautiful species from Peru with a unique color pattern among apistogrammas. Males develop a bold black mask across the face and a vivid blue-green body with a distinctive pale or white belly area — a high-contrast pattern that is immediately recognizable. The species is named for fish collector Aldo Panduro.

Feeding & Care Tip: Always soak Hikari Micro Pellets in a small cup of tank water for 30–60 seconds before feeding — Apistogrammas can be prone to bloat from dry foods expanding in the gut. Hikari Vibra Bites are an excellent treat option; the sinking worm-like shape triggers the natural hunting instinct of these micro-predators and they will snap them up eagerly. The bold blue-green and black contrast is most vivid in soft, slightly acidic water with tannin additions. Indian almond leaves and driftwood are strongly recommended for this blackwater species. For breeding conditioning, Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Tubifex Worms fed 2–3 times per week reliably trigger spawning behavior and improve egg quality.

Native to the Nanay River drainage near Iquitos in Loreto, Peru — a major blackwater tributary of the Amazon. A. panduro inhabits soft, very slightly acidic to acidic blackwater with sandy substrate and abundant leaf litter. It is a genuine blackwater specialist.

Keep one male with two or more females. Males are moderately territorial and display their bold facial mask and blue-green body coloration actively. This is a species that genuinely rewards proper blackwater conditions — in ideal water, the contrast between the black mask, blue-green body, and pale belly is extraordinary.

Apistogrammas are cave-spawning dwarf cichlids. The female takes on all parental duties — she guards the eggs and fry aggressively while her body turns bright canary yellow as a warning signal. Males should be watched during this period as females may attack them to protect the spawn; providing sight-breaks with plants and décor helps reduce tension. Coconut caves, clay pots, or driftwood crevices all make excellent spawning sites. Fry are initially tiny and require infusoria or freshly hatched baby brine shrimp for their first meals. Apistogrammas are found in the leaf-litter zones of blackwater forest streams and require a well-decorated aquarium to feel secure and display their best color. A dark substrate, driftwood, leaf litter (Indian almond leaves are ideal), and dense planting around the edges with open sandy areas in the center replicates the natural habitat and dramatically reduces stress. Stressed apistos hide, fade in color, and become susceptible to disease. A comfortable apisto is a spectacular one.

Care & Ideal Parameters

Difficulty Moderate
Temperament Peaceful — Dwarf Cichlid Community
Male Adult Size 3.0 inches (7.5 cm)
Female Adult Size 1.75 inches (4.5 cm)
Min. Group Size 1 male with 2+ females
Ideal Temp 75–84°F (24–29°C)
Ideal pH 6.0–7.0
Ideal GH 1–8 dGH
Ideal KH 0–5 dKH
Staple Food Hikari Micro Pellets (soak before feeding)
Treat / Supplement Hikari Frozen Bloodworms; Hikari Frozen Baby Brine Shrimp; Hikari Vibra Bites; Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Tubifex Worms (especially for breeding conditioning)
Origin Nanay River drainage, near Iquitos, Loreto, Peru
Notes Named for fish collector Aldo Panduro. Bold black facial mask with blue-green body and pale belly — distinctive pattern. Blackwater specialist from Nanay River. Indian almond leaves strongly recommended.
Live Arrival Guarantee

We guarantee the live arrival of all fish. In the unlikely event a fish arrives deceased, the following requirements must be met to qualify for our Live Arrival Guarantee:

  • Photos must be submitted within 2 hours of the carrier’s marked delivery time.
  • Photos must clearly show:
    The deceased fish
    The fish inside the original, unopened shipping bag
    The shipping label visible in at least one photo
  • Shipping bags must remain unopened until photos are taken.

Claims that do not meet these requirements or are submitted outside the 2-hour window will not be eligible.

Approved claims will be refunded for the cost of the affected fish and a proportional refund of the shipping cost. Refunds are issued as a refund or store credit at our discretion.

Shipping information

Shipping

Fish and Betta are shipped overnight only. If purchasing items other than Fish or Betta, they may ship separately by UPS Ground. If you require them to be shipped faster than UPS Ground, please place a separate order and specify the shipping method.

Inventory Accuracy

If this item is at low stock, or you are ordering all or almost all of our current inventory, there may be an inventory discrepency. We will contact you about any issues as soon as possible.

Order Processing

  Please allow 24 to 48 hrs to process your order.  We only ship on days where the livestock should not be in transit over the weekend, so depending on your location you may not see a shipment notification until the following week.

Store Pickup

  If you choose “Pickup in Store” at checkout, please tell us when you plant o pick up your betta and we will send you an email when your order is ready for pickup.  Orders can be picked up during store hours, see our home page for our current hours. 

The pick up address is

6637 Easton Rd,
Pipersville, PA 18947

Domestic Shipping Rates

Shipping charges, if
any, for your order will be calculated and displayed at checkout.

Ask a question

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

You may also like
Recently viewed