TankBud

Striped nannacara

Nannacara taenia

Also known as Taenia dwarf cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Striped nannacara (Nannacara taenia)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.0–7.0
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
18 gal
70 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Lower Amazon, Pará

Overview

The striped nannacara is a small, peaceful dwarf cichlid for the bottom of a quiet planted tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The striped nannacara's species name, taenia, means ribbon or band, a nod to the fine dark stripe that runs from nose to tail. It is one of the least often seen dwarf cichlids in the hobby, and it has long been used as a test of careful identification.

Caring for the striped nannacara

Striped nannacaras are social, so keep them as a pair or a small group. A pair needs at least 18 gal (70 L), and a group kept alongside other fish needs more room. A quiet planted tank suits them better than a busy community. Give them a soft sandy floor, dark leaf litter and driftwood, with gentle filtration and dim light.

Keep the water soft, warm and on the acidic side, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. Make steady weekly water changes. Feed a varied diet of small sinking foods, with regular live or frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp.

The striped nannacara is peaceful and settles fastest with calm tank mates of a similar size that will not push it away from food. Live and frozen foods bring it into breeding condition. It is a substrate spawner, and the female tends the eggs and guards the fry while the male holds a wider territory. Breeding is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

The striped nannacara belongs to the cichlid family and is one of the smaller members of its genus. Charles Tate Regan described it in 1912.

In the wild

The striped nannacara comes from the lower Amazon region around Belém in Pará, Brazil. It lives among leaf litter and plant roots along slow, soft, warm stream margins.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The striped nannacara 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 striped nannacara need?

A striped nannacara needs at least 18 gal (70 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a striped nannacara need?

A striped nannacara is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–7.0.

What does a striped nannacara eat?

A striped nannacara eats a varied diet of small sinking foods. Give it regular live or frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp as well.

How big does a striped nannacara get?

An adult striped nannacara reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How does a striped nannacara breed?

The striped nannacara is a substrate spawner, and live or frozen foods bring it into breeding condition. The female tends the eggs and guards the fry while the male holds a wider territory.

Related species