Dolphin acara
Krobia itanyi
Also known as Itanyi acara, Krobia krobiaitanyi
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Maroni and Itany rivers, Suriname and French Guiana
Overview
The dolphin acara is a hardy, even-tempered cichlid from the older days of the hobby. It cruises the middle and lower water among wood and roots, and it asks a little more of its keeper than the easiest fish.
Did you know
The dolphin acara's genus name, Krobia, is not a scientific invention. It is a local Surinamese name for these creek cichlids, carried straight into the genus when the fish were formally classified.
Caring for the dolphin acara
Give a dolphin acara, or a pair, at least 53 gal (200 L). Set up the tank with driftwood, some rockwork and flat stones, and a soft, sandy floor. Keep the flow gentle.
Keep the water soft to neutral and warm, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Wood or leaf litter gives it a light tannin stain. Feed an omnivore mix of pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and a little greenstuff.
Keep it as a single fish or a bonded pair rather than a group. It is mostly peaceful and only really assertive when guarding a spawn. Choose peaceful community fish of similar size, and give them space away from the pair when it breeds.
A bonded pair spawns on a cleaned surface and tends the eggs and fry side by side. Breeding sits at a moderate level of difficulty.
Good to know
The dolphin acara, Krobia itanyi, belongs to the family Cichlidae. It gets its dolphin name from a rounded forehead and a scribble of blue-green across the cheek.
In the wild
The dolphin acara lives in the Maroni and Itany river system of Suriname and French Guiana. It favors small, slow, shallow creeks with a rocky and silty bottom at the blackwater edge.
Common questions
What size tank does a dolphin acara need?
A dolphin acara needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a dolphin acara need?
A dolphin acara is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does a dolphin acara eat?
A dolphin acara eats an omnivore mix of pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp. Add a little greenstuff too.
How big does a dolphin acara get?
An adult dolphin acara reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
How does a dolphin acara breed?
Dolphin acaras form bonded pairs that spawn on a cleaned surface. Both fish tend the eggs and fry side by side, and breeding is moderately difficult.
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