fish · Cichlidae
Hongslo's dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma hongsloi
Wild range: Orinoco River basin — Río Vichada and middle Río Meta drainages (Colombia) and middle Orinoco (Venezuela) (South America)
At a glance: Hongslo's dwarf cichlid care
Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.
What temperature is listed for Hongslo's dwarf cichlid?
The compiled profile lists 23.0–29.0 °C for Hongslo's dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma hongsloi). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.
What tank size is listed for Hongslo's dwarf cichlid?
The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 20.0 US gallons (75.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.
What pH is listed for Hongslo's dwarf cichlid?
The compiled profile lists a pH of 5.5–7.0. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.
Natural habitat
Small, slow-moving to still tributaries and backwaters of the Orinoco basin over fine sand/mud with leaf litter, wood roots, and submerged cover; soft, often tannin-stained water (Seriously Fish, FishBase, Wikipedia/Mikolji wild notes).
Where they are found
Catalog primary locked as Apistogramma hongsloi Kullander, 1979 (CoF Current status: Valid; FishBase; ITIS/trade). Type locality Finca Boca de Guarrojo, Río Guarromo, Vichada, Colombia (Kullander 1979 Zoologica Scripta). Named for aquarist/collector Thorbjörn Hongslo (ETYFish / FishBase). DATZ A-number A110; similar locality forms coded A111–A115 (Seriously Fish). Member of A. hongsloi complex within A. macmasteri group / A. regani lineage (SF). Trade color lines include 'Hongsloi Red' / 'Super Red' / 'Hongsloi II' (selectively bred red-belly intensity; same species). Distinct from close Orinoco relatives A. macmasteri and A. viejita (separate catalog rows). IUCN Least Concern (Mesa-Salazar 2020/2022, assessed 2020-08-03).
Aquarium care
Colorful Orinoco dwarf cichlid (males with vivid red-orange belly). Plan ≥20 US gal (~75 L) for a pair or community setup with a long footprint preferred; SF absolute minimum ~11 gal / 45×30 cm base for a bare pair is too tight for harem or community use (Aquarium Co-Op genus 20 gal; AquariumStoreDepot 20 gal pair / 30+ gal harem; aqua-fish.net 75 L group — locked 20 gal). Soft acidic water 23–29°C, pH 5.5–7.0, GH ~1–10 (SF 23–29 / 5.5–7.0 / 1–15; FishBase tropical 23–30 and wild pH 5.5–6; ASD 24–28 / 5.0–7.0 / 1–8; aqua-fish 23–28 but pH 6.5–7.6 outlier high — locked SF∩ASD overlap 23–29°C, 5.5–7.0, 1–10). Fine sand, caves (coconut/clay pots) for each female, driftwood, leaf litter, dim light with Cryptocoryne/Anubias/Java fern and floating cover; gentle filtration (sponge ideal). Intermediate difficulty — captive-bred stock more adaptable than wild.
Feeding
Primarily carnivorous on benthic invertebrates in nature (Seriously Fish, AquariumStoreDepot). Offer regular live/frozen Artemia, Daphnia, bloodworm, cyclops, mysis plus quality small sinking pellets/granules; ACO genus notes some plant/crustacean roughage (brine shrimp, Daphnia exoskeletons) helps prevent bloating. Feed modest portions 2–3× daily; frozen/live foods drive red belly color. Avoid dry-only diets for show coloration.
Compatibility
Semi-aggressive territorial dwarf cichlid; community-safe with small peaceful mid/top dither fish (pencilfish, cardinals, rummy-nose, hatchets) when caves and sight breaks are plentiful (SF, ACO, ASD). Avoid other Apistogramma in standard tanks, fin-nippers, and large/aggressive cichlids. Breeding females may harass bottom-dwellers (corys) — watch carefully. Best as a species pair/harem with dither fish. Do not conflate with macmasteri-apistogramma or viejita-apistogramma (related Orinoco macmasteri-group species).
Breeding
Polygynous cave spawner; one male with two to three females works best when each female has a cave (ASD, ACO genus, SF). Female turns bright yellow, deposits ~60–90 adhesive eggs on cave ceiling (FishBase/Wikipedia); hatch ~2–3 days; female primarily tends eggs/fry and may become hyper-aggressive toward the male in small tanks — remove male if needed (SF). Fry take newly hatched brine shrimp. Soft acidic water (pH ~5.5–6.5, low GH) improves hatch rates. Captive 'Super Red' lines breed readily under these conditions.
Sources
Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.