Owroewefi guianacara
Guianacara owroewefi
Also known as Suriname bandit acara, Blue bandit cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F
- 25–29°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.2
- Adult size
- 5.1 in
- 13 cm
- Minimum tank
- 66 gal
- 250 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Cave spawner · Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Suriname rivers
Overview
The Owroewefi guianacara is a sturdy masked acara that suits a rocky community tank. It is a fish for keepers with a little experience.
Did you know
The word owroewefi means old wife. It was a local name for this fish, carried straight into its scientific name.
Caring for the Owroewefi guianacara
Keep Owroewefi guianacaras in a group of six or more, in at least 66 gal (250 L). Give them boulders and stacked rock that leaves real crevices, with sand between the stonework.
Keep the water soft to neutral, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed sinking pellets and frozen foods.
They are mostly peaceful, firm about a claimed crevice but not destructive. A group sorts itself into pairs with far less trouble than most cichlids. They are cave and crevice spawners, laying in cracks and caves rather than in the open, and both parents care for the brood. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The Owroewefi guianacara, Guianacara owroewefi, is a member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae. Its species name comes from Sranan Tongo, the creole language of Suriname.
In the wild
The Owroewefi guianacara lives among boulders in the rivers of Suriname, in warm water that runs soft to neutral.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Owroewefi guianacara is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Beardless barb
Cyclocheilichthys apogon
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Largescale four-eyed fish
Anableps anableps
FreshwaterBrackish11.8 in (30 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)77–88°F (25–31°C)
Clown loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 75 gal (285 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)
Van Heurn's rainbowfish
Melanotaenia vanheurni
Freshwater7.3 in (18.5 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Giant river hatchetfish
Triportheus rotundatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Head-spot delta pleco
Lasiancistrus tentaculatus
Freshwater6.7 in (17 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Owroewefi guianacara need?
An Owroewefi guianacara needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does an Owroewefi guianacara need?
An Owroewefi guianacara is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.
What does an Owroewefi guianacara eat?
An Owroewefi guianacara eats sinking pellets and frozen foods.
How big does an Owroewefi guianacara get?
An adult Owroewefi guianacara reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).
How does an Owroewefi guianacara breed?
Owroewefi guianacaras spawn in cracks and caves, not in the open, and both parents care for the young. A group pairs off with far less trouble than most cichlids. Breeding them is a moderate challenge.
Related species
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Guianacara geayi
5.1 in (13 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
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Guianacara dacrya
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