Ornamental fish species are often subjected to netting stress and subsequent air exposure during harvesting and often returned to the water as non-targeted fish species with an assumption that the entire process poses no threat to the behaviour and welfare of these fish species. However, despite the increasing number of scientific research on the welfare of fish species, the ornamental species have been understudied. Here we examined the behavioural response of Apistogramma juruensis (n=40, 0.556±0.23g) to acute handling stress under laboratory conditions. The fish species were exposed to a control group (T1), 10 secs netting (T2), 10 secs netting plus 30 secs air exposure (T3), 10 secs netting plus 60 secs air exposure (T4) to simulate durations of handling stress as obtainable in the ornamental fish trade sector. Video recordings of the behavioural traits of the fish species were done. A. juruensis were randomly assessed for behavioural (swimming (active swimming (AS) and inactive swimming (IS), feeding (latency to feed (LF) and feed intake (FI), aggression (AG), opercula beat rate (OBR) and shelter use (SU) traits. Statistical analyses were performed using linear mixed-effect models in the R Statistical tool (v 4.2.1). The interaction between treatment and weight influenced (p<0.05) the swimming pattern of the fish. AS was significantly (p<0.01) different between treatments and IS was similar (p=0.427) in T1 and T2. LF was highest in T4 and weight (LME, Weight: df = 34.00, t= -1.731, p=0.09, mR2 = 0.929, cR2 = 0.944) did not affect the LF of A. juruensis. In addition, the weight (LME, Weight, p=0.831) of the A. juruensis did not affect the FI. A. juruensis was most aggressive in T2 with significant (LME: Treatment; t = 2.49, df = 133.09, p <0.01, mR2 = 0.415, cR2 = 0.529) differences between treatments. Handling stressors affected (p<0.01) the OBR and this increased with treatment. Fish in T4 spent 66.9% of their time close to the shelter compared to T1 and the effect of weight indicated that larger-sized fish had a higher duration of SU (LME: Weight: t =10.53, df =59.38 p = 0.05, mR2 =0.86, CR2 = 0.95). However, the treatments applied did not result in mortality during the study. In conclusion, our study provides insight into the behavioural implication of netting stress and air exposure during ornamental fish handling and highlights how this could alter the welfare of A. juruensis.