Epae acara
Aequidens epae
Also known as Blue-cheek acara epae
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 5.5 in
- 14 cm
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal
- 250 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
- Lower Tapajós tributaries, Brazil
Overview
The Epae acara is a quiet, little-seen Brazilian acara and one for biotope keepers. It works around wood and over the floor in the middle and lower water. It is a fish for a keeper past the beginner stage.
Did you know
The Epae acara's odd name is not a local word but an acronym. Epae honors the Expedicao Permanente da Amazonia, the long-running Brazilian survey that helped bring this and other new fishes to light.
Caring for the Epae acara
Keep the Epae acara as a single fish or a bonded pair rather than a group. A pair needs at least 66 gal (250 L), with driftwood, a sandy floor and some smooth stones. Subdued lighting suits this shaded forest-stream fish.
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. It should be clear, gently moving and well filtered. Feed an omnivore diet of pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and some plant matter.
The Epae acara is mostly peaceful and turns defensive only around a spawn. Pick calm, medium community fish as companions, and give them room away from the pair's territory at breeding time.
Both parents care for the spawn, laying on a cleaned surface and shielding eggs and fry alike. That keeps breeding at a moderate level of difficulty.
Good to know
The Epae acara is a true acara in the family Cichlidae. Sven Kullander described it in 1995, among a set of new cichlids from southern Amazonia.
In the wild
Aequidens epae comes from clear-water streams in the lower Rio Tapajós drainage of Brazil. These streams flow over sand, mud and rock.
Common questions
What size tank does an Epae acara need?
An Epae acara needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does an Epae acara need?
An Epae acara is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does an Epae acara eat?
An Epae acara eats an omnivore diet of pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and some plant matter.
How big does an Epae acara get?
An adult Epae acara reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
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