TankBud

Hoigne's dwarf cichlid

Apistogramma hoignei

Also known as Venezuela panda apisto

FreshwaterFish

Hoigne's dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma hoignei)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–84°F
24–29°C
pH
5.0–7.0
Adult size
3 in
7.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lower Orinoco llanos drainages of Venezuela, including the Portuguesa and lower Caura

Overview

Hoigne's dwarf cichlid is an apisto for a planted tank with caves, where it keeps to the bottom. It asks a little more of its keeper than a beginner fish does.

Did you know

Venezuela rarely exports fish, so Hoigne's dwarf cichlid survives in the hobby almost entirely as an heirloom passed between breeders.

Caring for the Hoigne's dwarf cichlid

Keep a pair or a harem of Hoigne's dwarf cichlids in 20 gal (75 L) or more. Give them plant thickets, several caves and some open patches of sand.

Hold the water at 75 to 84°F (24 to 29°C) with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. This apisto stands harder water than the blackwater species do. It feeds without drama on frozen foods and sinking dry foods.

It is mostly peaceful and safe in a community tank. Soft water still suits breeding best, and breeding is moderately tricky. In the wild it breeds on the flood pulse. If a pair spawns for you, keep the line going.

Good to know

Meinken described Hoigne's dwarf cichlid in 1965. Breeding males combine a yellow face with heavy black blotches along the midline. Hobbyists compare that pattern to the panda apistos of Peru, even though the two are unrelated within the genus.

In the wild

Hoigne's dwarf cichlid lives in the llanos country of the lower Orinoco basin in Venezuela. Its savanna streams and pools hold sand, leaf litter and dense marginal plants, and they flood and shrink dramatically with the seasons. The water swings warm through the year.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Hoigne's dwarf cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Hoigne's dwarf cichlid need?

A Hoigne's dwarf cichlid needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Hoigne's dwarf cichlid need?

A Hoigne's dwarf cichlid is comfortable at 75–84°F (24–29°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.

What does a Hoigne's dwarf cichlid eat?

A Hoigne's dwarf cichlid feeds without drama on frozen foods and sinking dry foods.

How big does a Hoigne's dwarf cichlid get?

An adult Hoigne's dwarf cichlid reaches about 3 in (7.5 cm).

How does a Hoigne's dwarf cichlid breed?

A Hoigne's dwarf cichlid breeds best in soft water, and breeding it is moderately tricky. In the wild it spawns on the flood pulse.

Related species