- Size: Male to 2.8" (7 cm), female to 2" (5 cm)
- Tank: 20 gallons minimum for a pair; nano-friendly for its size
- pH: 5.5–7.2
- Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C) — tolerates cooler water than most apistos
- Hardness: Soft, up to 15 dGH
- Temperament: Peaceful, one of the calmest apistos in the genus
- Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
Overview
Apistogramma borellii, the umbrella cichlid, is one of the calmest and most cold-tolerant apistos in the hobby, staying under 3 inches and well suited to a heavily planted nano tank. It comes from the Paraguay and lower Paraná River basins, further south than most of the genus. That southern range matters: borellii tolerates cooler water than almost any other apisto, and has even been recorded surviving brief drops to 6.5°C (44°F) in the wild. You don't need to chase the high-70s heat this genus usually demands.
The male's calling card is his dorsal fin — when he flares it in display, the elongated rays fan out like the ribs of an umbrella, giving the species its common name. Body color runs pale blue through the midsection with gold-tipped dorsal and pelvic fins, a golden-yellow tail, and a dark stripe running through the eye to the snout. Females turn a vivid, unmistakable yellow when guarding brood.
Tank Setup
A pair does well in a 20-gallon long. Because borellii runs smaller and calmer than cacatuoides, it's one of the few apistos genuinely suited to nano setups — a heavily planted 10–15 gallon can house a single pair if the aquascape gives the female a territory to claim.
- Substrate: Fine sand. Borellii sifts substrate for food more than most apistos.
- Leaf litter: Indian almond or oak leaves recreate the leaf-litter-covered creek beds this species comes from, and the tannins help hold pH down.
- Hardscape: Driftwood, dense planting, and at least one cave or coconut hut per female if keeping a harem.
- Filtration: Gentle flow. Borellii comes from slow-moving swampy water, not current.
- Lighting: Moderate to dim. Floating plants help the fish relax and color up.
Feeding
An omnivore that eats insects and crustaceans in the wild. In the tank, a varied diet of quality flake and pellet as a base, supplemented with live or frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia, will bring out full color and support breeding condition. Feed twice daily what the fish clear in two minutes.
Temperament & Compatibility
This is the peaceful end of the Apistogramma spectrum. Borellii can be kept one male to several females in a large enough tank, or as a simple pair in something smaller. Males spar over territory but rarely cause real damage. Good tankmates include small tetras, corydoras, and other bottom-dwelling community fish that won't outcompete them for food.
Avoid keeping with other Apistogramma species in a small tank — hybridization and territorial stress are both real risks. This species will not bother plants.
Breeding
Conditioning
Condition the pair on live and frozen foods for two to three weeks. Borellii breeds readily once conditions are right — this is one of the more forgiving apistos to spawn, which is part of why it's a good second species after cacatuoides.
Spawning
A cave spawner. The female lays eggs on the cave ceiling or wall and takes over guard duty almost entirely; the male patrols the wider territory. Unlike some apistos, borellii pairs can sometimes stay together peacefully even outside of a strict harem structure.
Fry Care
Eggs hatch in roughly 2–3 days, with fry free-swimming within a week. Start with infusoria or liquid fry food for the first days, moving to newly hatched brine shrimp and microworms as they grow. Keep nitrates low — this species, like most apistos, is unforgiving of poor water quality during the fry stage.
Where to Get Quality Fish
Look for fish with clean, undamaged fins and active, curious behavior at the front of the tank — a healthy borellii investigates you back. Wild imports occasionally appear labeled by locality (Paraguay, Bolivia); domestic "opal" and other line-bred color forms are widely available and hardy. Visit our sourcing guide for questions to ask before you buy.
Final Thoughts
If cacatuoides is the classic entry point to this genus, borellii is the fish for the keeper who wants something quieter — smaller, calmer, and tolerant of a wider temperature range. It rewards a patient, well-planted setup more than an aggressive one, and it's an excellent second apisto once you've got the fundamentals down. If you want to compare it against its closest nano-tank rival, see our guide to Apistogramma trifasciata, which shares borellii's southern range and cool-water tolerance in an even smaller package.
Frequently Asked Questions
How cold can Apistogramma borellii tolerate?
Borellii handles cooler water than almost any other apisto — comfortable down to the low 70s°F, and wild fish have been recorded surviving brief drops to around 44°F.
Can borellii live in a nano tank?
Yes, with the right aquascape. It is one of the few apistos genuinely suited to a nano setup — a heavily planted 10 to 15 gallon tank can house a single pair if the layout gives the female a territory to claim.
What is the minimum tank size for a pair of borellii?
A 20-gallon long is typical for a pair, though a well-planted nano tank can work for a single pair given borellii's smaller size and calm temperament.
How aggressive is borellii compared to other apistos?
It is one of the calmest species in the genus. Males spar over territory but rarely cause real damage, making it more forgiving than cacatuoides or macmasteri.
Is borellii easy to breed?
Yes, it's one of the more forgiving apistos to spawn once conditions are right, which makes it a good second species after cacatuoides.
Why is Apistogramma borellii called the umbrella cichlid?
When a male flares his dorsal fin in display, the elongated rays fan out like the ribs of an umbrella, which gave the species its common name.
Apistogrammarama is written and maintained by the aquarium staff at Pet Zone Tropical Fish in San Diego, who have imported and kept South American dwarf cichlids since the store's founding in 2007.