Photo: Mazapura (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma hongsloi)
A vividly red-masked South American dwarf cichlid that brings big personality and colour to a soft, warm nano or species tank.
Will it live with a Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your hongsloi dwarf cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Adolf's Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Adolf's Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Agassiz's Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bamboo Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Bolivian Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Brilliant Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Brilliant Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Butterfly Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Corydoras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Duplicareus Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Duplicareus Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Elegant Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Elegant Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- False Julii Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep False Julii Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- German Blue Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 27–30 °C (81–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 27–29 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Gold Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7.5 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Gold Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Hillstream Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Narcissus II Cory✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Narcissus II Cory in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peppered Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rio Negro Checkerboard Cichlid✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–29 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Rust Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 5.5 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Rust Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Slate Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Slate Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Splashing Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Splashing Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sterbai Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Sterbai Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ash Lipped Apisto⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Ash Lipped Apisto can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Banded Dwarf Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Betta can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Bleeding Heart Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Bleeding Heart Tetra can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bleeding Heart Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bright Diamond Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid to harass Bright Diamond Tetra at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Bright Diamond Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Buenos Aires Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Buenos Aires Tetra can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Buenos Aires Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Celebes Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid 4.5–6.5 vs Celebes Rainbowfish 7–8.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (0–6 vs 10–20 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Celebes Rainbowfish are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add celebes rainbowfish in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Celebes Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Costa's Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Costa's Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Costa's Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Croaking Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Croaking Gourami are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add croaking gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
- Melon Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Melon Barb are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add melon barb in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Melon Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peacock Gudgeon⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid to harass Peacock Gudgeon at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Rounded Filament Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Expect Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid to harass Rounded Filament Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rounded Filament Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Roundtail Paradise Fish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 10–26 °C (50–79 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Sumo Loach⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Sumo Loach can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Tiger Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~95 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Tiger Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 7 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
- pH preferences only just meet (Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid 4.5–6.5 vs Alligator Gar 6.8–7.8) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory clown knifefish — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 7 cm): Fire Eel will treat Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid as food.
- Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 7 cm): Koi will treat Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid as food.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid 0–6 vs Koi 9–18 dGH).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 7 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid as food.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 7 cm Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid whole.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid and Wolf Cichlid are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (72 vs 7 cm): Wolf Cichlid will treat Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid as food.
- Different pH ranges (4.5–6.5 vs 7–8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid 0–6 vs Wolf Cichlid 8–20 dGH).
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Max size
- 7 cm (2.8 in)
- Min tank size
- 60 L (15.9 gal)
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- pH
- 4.5–6.5
- Hardness
- 0–6 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- 2+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Colombia — Orinoco and Meta river drainages
What is a Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid?
The Hongsloi dwarf cichlid (Apistogramma hongsloi), also called the Red Mask Apistogramma, is a compact South American cichlid endemic to Colombia’s Orinoco and Meta river drainages. Males reach up to 7 cm (2.75 in); females stay notably smaller. The male is the showpiece: a warm yellow-orange body overlaid with a vivid red or orange-red “mask” across the cheeks and snout, accented by a dark lateral band and extended fin rays that splay into dramatic points. Females are cryptically coloured in tan-yellow and appear unremarkable until spawning, when they flush bright lemon-yellow as a warning to anything that approaches the clutch. The species sits in the “demanding but rewarding” bracket — stricter chemistry requirements than many Apistogramma, but a bold, cave-dwelling personality that rewards the effort.
Where do Hongsloi dwarf cichlids come from?
In the wild, Apistogramma hongsloi inhabits slow-moving blackwater streams, flooded forest pools, and shallow oxbows in the Orinoco and Meta basins of Colombia. These habitats are stained dark by tannins leaching from decomposing leaves and driftwood, and the water chemistry that results is extreme by most freshwater standards: very soft (often zero measurable hardness), strongly acidic (pH 4.5–6.0 in many localities), warm, and low in dissolved minerals. Substrates are typically fine sand blanketed in leaf litter, with tangles of roots and submerged wood providing shelter.
Understanding this origin shapes every care decision: in hard, neutral tap water the fish will survive but stay pale and rarely breed; in close-to-blackwater conditions it will display full colour and behave with confidence.
What tank size and setup does a Hongsloi dwarf cichlid need?
A single pair can be kept in a 60-litre (16 gal) tank, though 75–90 L (20–24 gal) gives more room for both partners to claim territory without constant friction. A harem arrangement of one male with two or three females works well in 90 L or more, provided there are enough caves and visual breaks that each female has her own corner.
Use fine sand for the substrate — this species sifts through it looking for food and rearranges it around cave entrances. Caves are non-negotiable: coconut-shell halves, small clay pots, and overhanging flat stones are all used. Layer the floor with dried Indian almond or catappa leaves for tannins and fry grazing, add low-light planting (Java fern, anubias, floating hornwort) for overhead cover, and keep flow gentle — a sponge filter or canister on minimal setting is ideal.
What water parameters does a Hongsloi dwarf cichlid need?
- Temperature: 24–29 °C (75–84 °F). Stable warmth at the mid-range (26–27 °C) encourages confident display and breeding readiness.
- pH: 4.5–6.5. Aim for 5.5–6.0 for best colour and breeding success. This usually requires RO or rain water, lightly remineralised, not straight tap water in most regions.
- Hardness: 0–6 dGH. The closer to zero the better; very soft water is essential, not merely preferred.
Achieving these numbers consistently is the real skill. Use RO or rain water remineralised to around 50–80 µS conductivity, then acidify gently with peat filtration or Indian almond leaves rather than chemicals. Test with a reliable pH meter — strips are not accurate at this pH range. Weekly 20–25% water changes with parameter-matched water keep nitrates low without shocking the fish.
What do Hongsloi dwarf cichlids eat?
Apistogramma hongsloi is a carnivore that in the wild feeds on small invertebrates, insect larvae, and zooplankton found in the leaf litter. In the aquarium, offer a varied diet built around:
- Frozen or live foods as the staple: bloodworms, daphnia, cyclops, and brine shrimp are accepted eagerly and drive both colour and conditioning for breeding.
- Quality micro-pellets or granules small enough to fit in the mouth (1–1.5 mm) as a base ration on days without live or frozen food.
- Avoid flake as the sole diet; it is nutritionally thin for this species and tends to cloud the water in a low-flow tank.
Feed once or twice daily in small portions and remove uneaten food promptly. Soft, low-buffering water degrades faster when overfed, so portion discipline matters more here than in a harder-water tank.
How do Hongsloi dwarf cichlids behave — and what are good tank mates?
The Hongsloi is semi-aggressive in the cichlid sense: peaceful toward unrelated fish that stay out of its territory, but assertively territorial in the bottom zone — especially around a cave and even more so when a female is brooding. Male-to-male aggression is intense; keep only one male per tank unless the footprint is large enough for well-separated territories.
Good tank mates are mid-water or upper-water species that do not compete for the bottom zone: small tetras (rummy-nose, cardinal), hatchetfish, pencilfish, and otocinclus all work well in the soft, acidic conditions the Hongsloi demands. Avoid other bottom-dwellers that might intrude on caves, and avoid fin-nippers that could harass the male’s ornate fins.
For a curated, filterable list of species that pair well with this cichlid, see Hongsloi Dwarf Cichlid tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Hongsloi dwarf cichlids?
Sexual dimorphism in Apistogramma hongsloi is pronounced, making sexing adults straightforward:
Males grow to around 7 cm (2.75 in), carry the signature red facial mask and yellow-orange body, and develop extended fin tips as they mature. Colour intensifies during displays and territory defence.
Females are noticeably smaller — typically 3.5–4.5 cm (1.4–1.8 in) — and cryptically tan-yellow at rest. When guarding eggs or fry they shift dramatically to bright lemon-yellow on the face and flanks with dark contrasting patterning, making them conspicuous and formidable for their size. This colour change is the surest sign a spawn has occurred.
Juveniles are difficult to sex reliably before about 4–5 months; wait until males begin showing early mask colouration before confirming pairs.
How do Hongsloi dwarf cichlids breed?
Apistogramma hongsloi is a cave spawner with strong parental behaviour. The medium difficulty rating reflects the strict water-chemistry requirements rather than the spawning act itself.
Condition the fish on varied live and frozen food for two to four weeks before expecting a spawn. The female initiates by investigating caves, then signals the male with lateral displays; spawning takes place privately inside the chosen site. Clutch sizes are typically 50–120 eggs.
After spawning, the female takes sole charge of egg guarding and fanning while the male patrols the wider territory. Eggs hatch in two to three days at 27 °C; fry become free-swimming roughly five days later and accept infusoria or freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii as first foods. The female remains fiercely protective for two to three weeks — in smaller tanks a divider may be needed if she turns on the male. Raising fry in soft, acidic water matched to the adults’ parameters avoids the osmotic stress that causes high early-stage mortality in harder water.
What diseases affect Hongsloi dwarf cichlids?
Common health concerns in this species include:
- Ich (white spot): The classic small-white-spot outbreak, most often triggered by a temperature drop or introduction of infected fish. A quarantine period for all new arrivals is the primary prevention.
- Hexamita / Hole-in-the-head: Internal flagellate infections appear in cichlids kept in chronically poor water or fed a restricted diet. Varied nutrition and regular water changes are the best defence.
- Bacterial infections (fin rot, cloudy eye): Almost always secondary to water-quality failure — particularly elevated nitrates in soft, low-buffering water. Correct parameters first; clean water resolves mild cases without intervention.
- Velvet (Oodinium): A fine gold-dust coating on fins and body, harder to spot than ich. Dim lighting and correct warm temperature help prevention; a quarantine tank catches it before it reaches the display tank.
Health note: medication dosing and disease diagnosis are beyond the scope of a care profile. Confirm symptoms against a reputable fish-health source before medicating — many medications alter pH and hardness, which is especially disruptive in the soft-water setups this species requires.
How long do Hongsloi dwarf cichlids live?
With good care, Apistogramma hongsloi lives 3–5 years. The upper end is achievable in a well-maintained blackwater setup with consistent soft, acidic water, a varied diet, and low stress. Fish kept in suboptimal chemistry tend to remain pale, breed poorly, and age faster — which is why water quality is the single highest-leverage investment for this species. Captive-bred fish are typically more adaptable and arrive without the parasite load common in wild-caught specimens.
Frequently asked questions
Can Hongsloi dwarf cichlids live with other Apistogramma species?
Not recommended in most aquaria. Males of any Apistogramma will fight over territory and females, so housing two species together requires a very large tank with dense sight-line breaks. For most setups, keep one Apistogramma species per tank.
Why are my Hongsloi always hiding?
They hide when the water is wrong or they feel exposed. Check that pH is below 6.5 and temperature is 24–29 °C, add leaf litter or caves, and dim the light. Once they settle in soft, acidic, tannin-stained water with plenty of cover, males display boldly.
What you need to keep a hongsloi dwarf cichlid
The baseline is a heated, filtered 60 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 24–29 °C (75–84 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a hongsloi dwarf cichlid in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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