Araguaia dwarf acara
Laetacara araguaiae
Also known as Buckelkopf dwarf acara
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 1.8 in (4.5 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 14 gal (54 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Araguaia and Tocantins backwaters
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
A dwarf cichlid mild enough for a planted community, and one of the few that will not dig the layout up. Keep a pair in a 54 liter tank with plants, leaf litter and a few flat stones. They spawn in the open on a leaf or stone, and both parents take fanning shifts and herd the fry together afterwards. Tankmates should be small and calm. Feed small frozen and live foods with a fine granule.
In the wild
Laetacara araguaiae lives in still, weedy backwaters of the Araguaia and Tocantins in central Brazil, shallow water thick with vegetation and fallen leaves. Keep it at 24 to 28 degrees Celsius and pH 5.5 to 7.0, with planting, litter and quiet flow.
Good to know
Laetacara araguaiae reaches about 4.5 centimeters and was described in 2009. The hobby knew it for years beforehand as Laetacara sp. Buckelkopf. Laetacara means happy cichlid, for the upturned dark mouth line that gives the genus a permanent smile.
Did you know
Laetacara means happy cichlid, named for the painted smile-line every species wears through the eye.
Tank mates
Araguaia dwarf acara is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Goldhead nannacara
Nannacara aureocephalusFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Shining pencilfish
Nannostomus nitidusFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Drape-fin barb
Oreichthys crenuchoidesFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Spot-tail curimata
Curimatopsis evelynaeFreshwater1.6 in (4 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipesFreshwater2.8 in (7 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Marbled helogenes
Helogenes marmoratusFreshwater3.1 in (8 cm)14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Araguaia dwarf acara need?
An Araguaia dwarf acara needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Araguaia dwarf acara need?
Araguaia dwarf acara are comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
How big do Araguaia dwarf acara get?
An adult Araguaia dwarf acara reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
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Related species
Redbreast acara
Laetacara dorsigeraFreshwater2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Thayer's dwarf acara
Laetacara thayeriFreshwater4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Dwarf flag cichlid
Laetacara curvicepsFreshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Fire-tail dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma eremnopygeFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)16 gal (60 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Bridge dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma gephyraFreshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm)15 gal (55 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Allpahuayo dwarf cichlid
Apistogramma allpahuayoFreshwater2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)