A type of South American Cichlid, Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlids are native to northwestern Brazil and were originally collected from Lake Manucapuru near the city of Manaus. Currently, however, these fish are known to inhabit much of the Amazon River basin, living in slow-moving tributaries, creeks and backwaters. These fish tend to prefer environments where a great deal of leaf litter has collected, staining the water with tannins. Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlids, as indicated by their name, do not grow as large as many other Cichlid species but they still exhibit the typical bright Cichlid coloration. Though coloration and patterning may vary depending on the locality, many specimens have bright yellow coloration on their sides and bellies. Fin colorations may include red, orange or yellow and most specimens exhibit a dark lateral stripe running along the body from the eye through the caudal fin.