Redbreast Acara

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Paranà, Guaporé river systems and Rio Paraguay basin (Pantanal). Lives in boundless flooded swamps, among aquatic grass stalks and slow, dark runoff waters, which become very fresh during the southern winters.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Red-Breasted Acara (Laetacara dorsigera). More robust and stocky than the curviceps (with which it has been confused in the past). The frontal profile is straighter and often has a fixed dark spot in the center of the dorsal fin.

Social Behavior: Docile bottom hunter. Moves methodically peering under every leaf on the bottom. Not a frantic swimmer and appreciates inactivity in the shade of woods. Maintains hierarchy through harmless "pushes".

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Amazing. The body is gray-green, but the throat, chest and entire abdomen blaze with a deep Wine-Red or Purple, which extends maximally when excited or breeding. Females are often more colorful than males!

Aquarium Setup: Pantanal Biotope. Amber water, light sand on the bottom completely covered by leaves (Ketapang, oak). The addition of vertical dry branches and Echinodorus reproduces their flooded grass habitat.

Diet and Feeding: Predator of small organisms. Likes soft baits, flakes, and occasionally frozen shrimp. Providing live food (mosquito larvae) is the trick to make the blood red coloration of the chest ignite to the maximum.

Water Quality: Being from the Pantanal, it enjoys wide tolerance (GH up to 15) and can overwinter at temperatures of 20-22°C (68-72°F) without batting an eye. Constant heat at 28°C (82°F) will drastically reduce their lifespan. Excellent filtration is recommended.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Excellent. Best tank-mates include Hyphessobrycon eques (Serpae), Aphyocharax, and Corydoras paleatus. Will ignore all schooling fish, defending vigorously but never killing near the nest.

Aquarium Reproduction: Close-knit couples (Open spawner). Both assume the dazzling red livery, spawning on a stone. Their parental instinct is among the strongest of dwarf cichlids: they will headbutt the aquarist's hand to defend the nest.

Risks and Diseases: Shyness and starvation. Inserted in tanks with voracious cichlids and great swimmers (e.g. Geophagus or Central American Cichlids), the dorsigera will be overwhelmed, will stop feeding, losing its red and wasting away quickly.