Apistogramma hoignei

Apistogramma hoignei (A116, A118) is a rarely seen dwarf cichlid that comes from the Orinoco basin in Venezuela. They are closely related to Apistogramma macmasteri and are easy to keep and breed. Unfortunately, they are rarely available in the USA.

Introduction to Apistogramma hoignei

A. hoignei is one of a number of species found throughout a broad swath of landscapes. There are two forms of A. hoignei identified as A116 & A118 while the very similar Apistogramma cf. hoignei “Arauca” has been designated A117. In 2011, several new species were described that are obviously closely related to A. hoignei however, to the best of my knowledge, none of these are in the hobby. In total, there are at least 6 identified forms of A. hoignei and A. cf. hoignei. (For more information about A numbers and Apistogramma groups see our section on Apistogramma classification and naming.

Apistogramma hoignei is found in tributaries to the Rio Orinoco in Columbia and Venezuela. They are associated with leaf litter and dense vegetation which provide shelter. A. hoignei are often captured in waters with pH values between 6.5 and 7.0. They are larger than many Apistos with some males reaching 3 1/2 inches.

What’s in a name?

Apistogramma hoignei is in the macmasteri complex within the A. macmasteri group. Like the other macmasteri complex members, Apistogramma hoignei is a fairly robust Apisto. The species was first described by Meinken in 1965 from what he believed was a pair of fish. It turns out that they were not a pair but that is only part of the tale.

The story begins in the spring of 1964 when the fish collector Leo Hoigne captured the fish from the Rio Apuré in the Venezuelan state of Guérico. Hoigne shipped the fish to Albert Klee who was the prominent American editor of the well-known magazine The Aquarium. Klee subsequently preserved the “pair” and sent them to Meinken who honored the collector by naming them Apistogramma hoignei.  

As part of his 1979 revision of the genus, Apistogramma Dr. Sven Kullander reexamined the original “pair” upon which Meinken based his description. Kullander discovered that the fish were not a pair, but actually two females. Females of the macmasteri complex are very difficult to tell apart but, through careful examination, Kullander was able to establish that A. hoignei was a valid species. However, it was not in the hobby at the time and it was the mid-1990s before the species became more available.

Identifying Apistogramma hoignei

As is expected of a fish that inhabits a large geographic area with lots of habitat types and has numerous similar species and forms, Apistogramma hoignei exhibits a lot of variability in coloration and finnage. Male A. hoignei are typically identified by their caudal fin (tail) which usually sports distinctive colorful edges on the top and bottom of the lyrate-shaped fin. Solid red or black edges are common and some populations have both red and black.

In addition to their distinctively marked caudal fins, the males of some populations of A. hoignei sport a tall serrated dorsal fin. Most exhibit dark markings on their face but this is not a reliable diagnostic feature. If you ever need identification assistance for a hoignei-type fish just reach out to the community at Apistogramma.com.

Aquarium Care

Apistogramma hoignei has never been a common species in North America. In fact, it’s often many years between times when it’s available. It seems like it would be a good species for long-term maintenance as it is fairly undemanding of water, easy to feed, and easy to breed. The species has been collected in a variety of water types and I’ve seen breeding accounts that describe success under a wide variety of conditions. In my experience, the species is easy to keep and breed. Follow the basic instructions for breeding Apistogrammas and you should have success.

I kept A. hoignei for a number of years in the 1990s. The population I had exhibited a lot of yellow colors on the males and only faintly colored bands on the edges of the caudal. In addition, my strain only exhibited minor dorsal fin extensions and only slightly lyrate caudal fins. However, they were great fish, attractive, not too aggressive, and undemanding of food and water. Unfortunately, I failed to keep my population going but I will be sure to get this species again if I have the chance.

How to buy A. hoignei

As with many of the uncommon species, there is no reliable way I know of to buy A. hoignei. It’s often years between seeing them on anyone’s list. Reach out to the online fish sellers who import and let them know you are looking. It’s always possible they will become available. Our Guide to buying Apistogrammas has a lot more information on where to look.

Essential Articles About Apistogrammas
The Genus Apistogramma
Apistogramma Aquarium Care
Breeding Apistogrammas
Understanding Apistogramma Classification and Identification
Live Plants in the Apistogramma Aquarium
How and Where to Buy Apistogrammas and Other Dwarf Cichlids