Twospot dwarf acara

Nannacara bimaculata

Also known as Ivanacara bimaculata, Guyana dwarf acara, Guyana acara

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 5.0–7.0
Adult size: 2.2 in (5.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 14 gal (54 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Essequibo drainage, Guyana
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

The twospot dwarf acara is a small, peaceful cave-spawning cichlid kept as a single bonded pair in a quiet, well planted tank. Around breeding, the female takes charge of the fry, darkening into bold patterning while the male patrols the edges of the territory, so give the pair room and cover. It is otherwise gentle and suits small, calm tankmates such as small tetras or pencilfish. It stays near the bottom among plants and wood. Feed small live and frozen foods along with fine dried foods. A tank of around 54 liters suits a pair.

In the wild

This dwarf comes from the Potaro and Essequibo river systems of Guyana, living along shaded creek margins in soft, warm, acidic water among leaf litter and plant roots. Recreate that with soft sand, driftwood, dried leaves and dense planting, with some caves or shells for spawning. Keep it soft and warm, around 24 to 28 C and pH 5.0 to 7.0.

Good to know

This dwarf cichlid reaches only about 5.5 centimeters. Named bimaculata, or two-spotted, it is now often placed in the genus Ivanacara, though the aquarium trade and some databases still list it under Nannacara. It is a cave spawner in which the female tends the eggs and guards the fry, taking on dark patterning while she does so.

Did you know

Its name means two-spotted, for a pair of dark marks it carries on the body, and the species sits right at the boundary of two genera, shipped as a Nannacara but reclassified by some scientists into Ivanacara.

Tank mates

Twospot dwarf acara is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.