Edit Acarichthys heckelii

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Name

Scientific name

Acarichthys heckelii

Described by

Authority Müller & Troschel, Year 1849

Family

Cichlidae

Summary

The threadfin acara, Acarichthys heckelii, is a cichlid from the northern Amazon basin in Colombia, Peru and Brazil and the Essequibo in Gu…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

200mm, standard length

Tank size

Not recorded

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 24–30°C, pH 6–8

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries

Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru

Supporting text

Etymology

Acarichthys: from acará, the Tupí-Guaraní word for cichlids (the original genus of A. heckelii), and the Greek ikhthûs (Gr. ἰχθῦς), meaning 'fish'. heckelii: n…

Distribution

Native to northern parts of the Amazon basin in Colombia, Peru and Brazil including lower parts of the ríos Putumayo, Trombetas, Negro, Xingu, Tocantins, Capim…

Habitat

Inhabits lowland parts of river basins and often enters flooded savannah or forest during the wet season.

Aquarium size

A tank with a base footprint of 150 cm x 45 cm is just about acceptable for a pair but a significantly larger tank would be needed for a group.

Maintenance

A sandy substrate is recommended although gravel can be used if you wish, the main disadvantage being that this species is an incessant digger so if the latter…

Water conditions

Temperature: 24 – 30 °C75 – 86 °F, and preferably towards the upper end of this range. pH: 6.0 – 8.0 Hardness: 1 – 12 dGH

Diet

This species does not sift sand like some related species, rather spending much its time in midwater. Most foods are accepted but a varied diet is essential fo…

Behaviour and compatibility

Relatively peaceful in the main and will not prey on anything larger than a couple of centimetres in size. Suitable tankmates are too numerous to list but incl…

Relatively peaceful in the main and will not prey on anything larger than a couple of centimetres in size. Suitable tankmates are too numerous to list but include most peaceful species enjoying similar environmental conditions. For those wishing to attempt a biotope-style community a list of some naturally co-occurrent species can be found in the 'habitat' section above.

Best avoided are particularly aggressive/territorial species or those known to nip at trailing fins. Some aquarists keep this species alongside freshwater stingrays of the genus Potamotrygon which in many cases has proven successful but in others has resulted in the stingrays preying on them at night.

Unfortunately some adults appear prone to exhibit unpredictable and extreme events of intraspecific aggression which can easily result in the death of weaker individuals. This appears related to both tank and group size with problems decreasing as both those factors increase.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the profileFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Sexual dimorphism

Sexually mature females should be noticeably thicker-bodied than males.

Reproduction

This species requires 2-3 years to reach sexual maturity and in nature exhibits an intriguing spawning strategy whereby females compete for territories and exc…

Notes

The genus Acarichthys remains monotypic and was resdescribed by Kullander (1986) who characterised it by the following: lack of epibranchial lobe; comparativel…

References

8 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Tank size

Water

Temperature and pH

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries

Supporting text

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References