Orinoco cupid cichlid
Biotodoma wavrini
Also known as Wavrin's cichlid, Cupid cichlid wavrini
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F
- 25–29°C
- pH
- 4.8–6.5
- Adult size
- 4.7 in
- 12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal
- 250 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Orinoco and upper Negro basins
Overview
The Orinoco cupid cichlid is a delicate acara for a mature blackwater tank, and not a fish for a new setup. It works the bottom and is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
The Orinoco cupid cichlid is named for a Belgian marquis who collected on the Orinoco.
Caring for the Orinoco cupid cichlid
Keep Orinoco cupid cichlids in a group of five or more, in at least 66 gal (250 L). Give them deep, pale sand, leaf litter, tannin-stained water and low light.
Keep the water very soft and acidic, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 4.8 to 6.5. Hold conditions stable. The extreme water chemistry it comes from is the main reason it has a reputation for being difficult.
It hovers just above the substrate and picks food from it rather than chasing. Feed fine sinking foods and frozen brine shrimp or cyclops.
It is mostly peaceful, so keep its company quiet. It is a substrate spawner, and breeding it is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
Biotodoma wavrini, in the family Cichlidae, is the Orinoco counterpart to the Amazonian Biotodoma cupido. A flank spot set higher on the body tells it apart.
In the wild
The Orinoco cupid cichlid lives over white sand in the blackwater shallows of the Orinoco and upper Negro. The water there is stained dark, extremely soft and acidic.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Orinoco cupid 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.
Snakeskin gourami
Trichopodus pectoralis
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 61 gal (230 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Giant river hatchetfish
Triportheus rotundatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Owroewefi guianacara
Guianacara owroewefi
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Chocolate cichlid
Hypselecara temporalis
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 65 gal (245 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Cascarudo
Callichthys callichthys
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 63 gal (240 L)66–81°F (19–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Orinoco cupid cichlid need?
An Orinoco cupid cichlid needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an Orinoco cupid cichlid need?
An Orinoco cupid cichlid is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 4.8–6.5.
What does an Orinoco cupid cichlid eat?
An Orinoco cupid cichlid picks its food from the sand rather than chasing it. Give it fine sinking foods and frozen brine shrimp or cyclops.
How big does an Orinoco cupid cichlid get?
An adult Orinoco cupid cichlid reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).
How does an Orinoco cupid cichlid breed?
The Orinoco cupid cichlid is a substrate spawner. Breeding it is a moderate challenge.
Related species
4.7 in (12 cm)53 gal (200 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)Cupid cichlid
Biotodoma cupido
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