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: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Orinoco and upper Negro basins
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

A delicate acara for a mature blackwater tank, and not a fish for a new setup. Keep a group of five or more over deep, pale sand with tannin-stained water and quiet company; it hovers just above the substrate and picks food from it rather than chasing. It needs very soft, acidic water and stable conditions to do well. Feed fine sinking foods and frozen brine shrimp or cyclops.

In the wild

Biotodoma wavrini lives over white sand in the blackwater shallows of the Orinoco and upper Negro, where the water is stained dark, extremely soft and acidic. Keep it at 25 to 29 degrees Celsius and pH 4.8 to 6.5, with deep sand, leaf litter and low light.

Good to know

Biotodoma wavrini reaches about 12 centimeters and is the Orinoco counterpart to the Amazonian Biotodoma cupido, distinguished by a flank spot set higher on the body. It is a substrate spawner. The extreme water chemistry it comes from is the main reason it has a reputation for being difficult.

Did you know

It is named for a Belgian marquis who collected on the Orinoco; cupid's arrows arrive with aristocracy attached.

Tank mates

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