Apistogramma macmasteri is a colorful and hardy dwarf cichlid that is undemanding in terms of water hardness. This makes it a popular choice among many beginner aquarists.
There are many color varieties of this apisto sold in the pet fish market, developed by selective breeding based on their two naturally occurring colors: red and yellow. The color-enhanced red varieties are often mistaken for tank-raised A. viejita, given their vivid red bodies.