Description
Apistogramma hongsloi is a dwarf cichlid of about 6 cm, the male larger and more colourful than the female and with longer fins. It is known from the Vichada and Meta rivers in Colombia and the middle Orinoco in Venezuela, where it lives in small tributaries and still waters.
Several similar populations from different localities are coded A111 to A115 and may be the same species. For a community tank it is best to choose captive-raised fish.
Behavior
Calm with other species and territorial among its own. Wild fish do better alone or with small surface fish, such as Nannostomus or Micropoecilia, and should not be mixed with other apistogrammas.
It lives well with small tetras, rasboras and corydoras.
Avoid housing it with large or energetic fish.
Habitat
Apistogramma hongsloi lives in small tributaries and still waters of the Vichada and Meta river basins in Colombia and the middle Orinoco.
A pair fits in 45 by 30 cm; for one male with two females a 60 cm base is better, with caves, dried leaves and a sand floor.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
It spawns in crevices and caves and the female guards eggs and fry. Similar populations from other localities (A111 to A115) are not well delimited, so each origin is best kept separate.
Diet
A micropredator that hunts invertebrates on the bottom.
- Staple: sinking micropellets.
- Essential: live or frozen food several times a week, such as brine shrimp, daphnia or mosquito larvae.
On dry food alone the male shows less colour.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–30 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 26–30 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 27–30 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–30 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
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They share water: pH 7 and 23–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Apistogramma hongsloi. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives pH 5.5-6, from 5 dH and 23-30 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 5.5-7, 1-15 dGH and 23-29 °C. The profile uses the widest range. Size: 3.4 cm SL in FishBase and 6 cm SL in Seriously Fish; the larger is taken. Seriously Fish recommends captive-raised fish for the community tank.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.