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
Origin: Lower Orinoco llanos drainages of Venezuela, including the Portuguesa and lower Caura
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

Keep a pair or harem in 75 liters or more with plant thickets and multiple caves. It feeds without drama on frozen and sinking dry foods and stands harder water than blackwater apistos, though soft water still suits breeding best. Venezuelan exports are essentially nonexistent, so nearly every fish available is captive bred; treat pairs accordingly and keep lines going.

In the wild

Apistogramma hoignei lives in the llanos country of Venezuela's lower Orinoco basin, in seasonally flooded savanna streams and pools with sand, litter, and dense marginal plants. Water swings warm through the year. Keep it at 24 to 29 degrees Celsius, pH 5.0 to 7.0, in a planted tank with caves and open sand patches.

Good to know

Described by Meinken in 1965, this Venezuelan species reaches about 7.5 centimeters. Breeding males combine a yellow face with heavy black blotches along the midline, a pattern hobbyists compare to the panda apistos of Peru even though the two are unrelated within the genus. Its llanos home floods and shrinks dramatically with the seasons, and the fish breeds on the flood pulse.

Did you know

Because Venezuela rarely exports fish, this species survives in the hobby almost entirely as an heirloom passed between breeders.

Tank mates

Hoigne's dwarf cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.