TankBud

Zebra acara

Ivanacara adoketa

Also known as Nannacara adoketa

FreshwaterFish

Zebra acara (Ivanacara adoketa)
Birger A · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
5.0–6.5
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
38 gal
145 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Brazil

Overview

The zebra acara is a fairly peaceful dwarf cichlid for a dim, soft-water tank. It is easy to keep.

Did you know

The zebra acara can shift its pattern fast, from soft barring to bold black-and-white stripes, depending on its mood. That quick change is where the zebra name comes from.

Caring for the zebra acara

Give the zebra acara a tank of at least 38 gal (145 L), with caves and lots of cover. Tannin-stained water from leaves or wood, plus dim light, keeps it comfortable and brings out its color. It swims in the middle of the tank.

Keep the water soft and acidic, at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.0 to 6.5. Feed pellets plus live or frozen foods. In the wild it eats small invertebrates and some plant matter.

The zebra acara is mostly peaceful and prefers to live singly or as a bonded pair rather than in a group. Keep only one male per tank, and choose tank mates with caution. Watch for territorial behavior around spawning time.

Males are the larger sex and carry stronger markings. Zebra acaras form pairs and spawn on the substrate, laying their eggs on a hidden surface. Both parents tend the brood, but breeding them is hard.

Good to know

The zebra acara, Ivanacara adoketa, is a dwarf cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Its coloration is variable. Wild populations are currently stable.

In the wild

The zebra acara lives in the Rio Negro basin in Brazil. It is found in slow, tea-colored blackwater with heavy shade, leaf litter and submerged roots. The water there is soft and acidic.

Common questions

What size tank does a zebra acara need?

A zebra acara needs at least 38 gal (145 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a zebra acara need?

A zebra acara is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–6.5.

What does a zebra acara eat?

A zebra acara takes pellets plus live or frozen foods in the aquarium. In the wild it eats small invertebrates and some plant matter.

How big does a zebra acara get?

An adult zebra acara reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

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

Males are the larger sex, and they carry stronger markings than females.

How does a zebra acara breed?

Zebra acaras form pairs and spawn on the substrate, laying their eggs on a hidden surface. Both parents tend the brood, and breeding them is hard.

Related species