Moa Apisto

Apistogramma moae is found in the Rio Moa drainage of Venezuela, a blackwater system with extremely soft and acidic water. Males display iridescent blue-green scaling along their flanks, a display that can only be fully appreciated in the proper blackwater environment. This is a specialist species requiring careful attention to water chemistry.

Water: 25-29°C, pH 4.5-6.5, very soft (GH 0-3); blackwater extract and leaf litter essential. Tank: 60L minimum, dark substrate, leaf litter, driftwood, minimal current. Feeding: omnivore — live/frozen micro foods critical; dry foods rarely accepted initially. Behaviour: territorial during breeding; harem (1M:2-3F) in species or biotope tank. Compatibility: species tank or blackwater biotope with small Venezuelan tetras.