Zebra acara

Care at a glance

Overview

This is a fairly peaceful cichlid that prefers to be kept singly or as a bonded pair rather than in a group. It stays low in the tank, near the bottom and among roots and leaves. It eats small invertebrates and some plant matter in the wild and takes pellets plus live or frozen foods in the aquarium. Give it caves and cover, and watch for territorial behavior around spawning time.

In the wild

The zebra acara lives in the Rio Negro basin in Brazil, in slow, tea-colored blackwater with heavy shade, leaf litter, and submerged roots. The water there is soft and acidic, so keep the pH low, around 5 to 6.5, and the temperature in the low to high 20s C. Tannin-stained water from leaves or wood, dim light, and lots of cover will keep it comfortable and bring out its color.

Good to know

It is a dwarf cichlid in the family Cichlidae, reaching about 12 cm. It forms pairs and is a substrate spawner, laying eggs on a hidden surface with both parents tending the brood. Coloration is variable, and males are the larger, more marked sex. Wild populations are currently stable.

Did you know

It can shift its pattern fast, going from soft barring to bold black-and-white stripes depending on mood, which is where the zebra name comes from.

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