TankBud

Redbreast acara

Laetacara dorsigera

Also known as Red-breasted flag cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Redbreast acara (Laetacara dorsigera)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
South America: Guapore, Parana, Paraguay and Uruguay river drainages (Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina)

Overview

The redbreast acara is a small, mostly peaceful dwarf cichlid for a planted, soft-water community tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The redbreast acara's red breast, the color behind its name, comes up strongest on a settled, well-fed pair. A male holding territory shows it best of all.

Caring for the redbreast acara

A single male and female pair of redbreast acaras needs at least 20 gal (75 L) of floor space. Use a soft, sandy substrate with some leaf litter, roots and a few flat rocks. Plant thickly and leave shaded corners so the fish feel secure. They stay near the bottom, sifting the sand and patrolling their patch.

Keep the water soft and acidic to neutral, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed small live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, alongside a quality dried food. That mix helps bring out the red on the breast.

The redbreast acara is mostly peaceful and safe with community fish. It does fine alone or in a group, but a breeding pair turns territorial and stops tolerating its own kind. A tank of 100 liters or more gives room to add small dwarf cichlids or tetras.

Males grow larger than females. A pair picks out a flat rock or a cleared patch of substrate and lays its eggs there together. Both parents stand guard, fanning the clutch, and they herd the fry once the eggs hatch. It is one of the easier dwarf cichlids to breed.

Good to know

The redbreast acara is a dwarf cichlid in the family Cichlidae, also known as the red-breasted flag cichlid. FishBase lists it at about 6 cm in standard length. Fish from the southern, subtropical populations tolerate cooler water down to about 20°C, though the species is usually kept warmer.

In the wild

Redbreast acaras come from slow, soft, slightly acidic waters in the Guapore, Parana, Paraguay and Uruguay river drainages. Their range crosses Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. They live close to the bottom over sand, among leaf litter, roots and dense plants.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The redbreast acara 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a redbreast acara need?

A redbreast acara needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a redbreast acara need?

A redbreast acara is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a redbreast acara eat?

A redbreast acara eats small live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp. Give it a quality dried food alongside them, which helps bring out the red on its breast.

How big does a redbreast acara get?

An adult redbreast acara reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

How can you tell a male redbreast acara from a female?

Males grow larger than females.

How does a redbreast acara breed?

Redbreast acaras lay their eggs together on a flat rock or a cleared patch of substrate. Both parents guard the clutch, fanning the eggs and herding the fry once they hatch. They are one of the easier dwarf cichlids to breed.

Related species