Apistogramma hongsloi

Apistogramma hongsloi is a species endemic to the Orinoco basin, belonging to the same group of relatives as macmasteri. The male's pale cream–gold body is decorated with salmon and red–orange tones, especially on its lower half; there is a blue sheen on the cheeks, a red edge on the dorsal fin and red spots or bands on the tail.

Color intensity depends heavily on diet, light and the fish's condition. Males that look pale in the store become noticeably more colorful within a few weeks in a good aquarium. A large share of the fish sold are farm-bred.

It lives in small tributaries and still waters in the middle reaches of the Meta and Vichada rivers in Colombia and in the middle Orinoco system in Venezuela. These are soft waters that expand in the rainy season and are full of leaves and plants.

• Volume: at least 60 liters for one male and two females.
• Decor: a cave for each female, fine sand, roots, dried leaves and plenty of plants.
• Water: 25–27°C; soft and slightly acidic is ideal, farm-bred fish adapt to moderate hardness.
• Maintenance: a 25% water change every week, low nitrate, gentle flow.

Carnivorous. Protein-rich frozen foods such as brine shrimp, mysis, bloodworms, cyclops and daphnia bring out its color best. It also accepts small sinking granules.

Males are territorial and harsh toward males of their own species. Females can become very aggressive during the fry period. It usually leaves calm midwater fish alone; it hunts shrimplets.

Good companions: small tetras (cardinal, ember, rummy-nose), pencilfish, hatchetfish, otocinclus.

Avoid: other Apistogramma males (in a small aquarium), large cichlids, shrimp breeding, fast barbs that dominate at feeding time.

A harem: 1 male and 2 females. The females' caves should be placed far apart. If a single pair is kept, leave hiding places for the male; a female guarding fry keeps him away.

The female lays her eggs on the ceiling or wall of the cave and takes on their care; during this period she turns yellow. The eggs hatch in 2–3 days, and the fry become free-swimming a few days later. In a small aquarium the male may have to be removed because of the female's aggression. The fry are fed newly hatched brine shrimp.

It is sensitive to poor water quality. Pale color is often a sign of stress, the wrong diet or high nitrate. New fish should be observed in quarantine.

Males reach 6–7 cm; their bodies are longer, their dorsal and anal fins pointed and their colors reddish. Females are 4–5 cm, light brown–yellow with a distinct black lateral stripe; they turn bright yellow during the fry period. Sexing juveniles is difficult.