Golden-eyed dwarf cichlid
Nannacara anomala
A dwarf cichlid from Guyana and Suriname with brilliant golden eyes — hence the name — and a greenish-bronze iridescent body. Unique spectacle: during breeding, the female transforms into a fierce guardian with a completely different livery — black and yellow bands — and defends the nest with surprising aggression, even against the male himself. Relatively robust and easy to breed for a dwarf cichlid, it spawns in caves and females care for the offspring alone.
Water Temperature
22 - 26 °C
pH Value
6 - 7.5
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Bottom and middle
Adult size
7.5 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 75 L
Minimum group
>= 2
GH
2 - 12 dGH
KH
1 - 6 dKH
TDS
40 - 240 ppm
Conductivity
63 - 375 uS/cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Coastal regions of Guyana and Suriname. Frequents very shallow flooded swamps, submerged meadows and very slow or stagnant streams, often covered by dense vegetation.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Goldeneye Cichlid (Nannacara anomala). South American dwarf cichlid. Robust but small, stocky and rounded head. The name "Goldeneye" derives from the constantly golden and bright iris.
Social Behavior: Sleepy and enigmatic until it is breeding. The male spends his time inspecting the bottom without disturbing anyone. In the reproductive phase, the small females undergo a draconian personality change, becoming among the fiercest fish in the world.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Accentuates dimorphism. Males (7-8 cm / 3 inches) have a bronze-green background and bright neon blue scales, with large pointed fins. Females are tiny (4 cm / 1.5 inches), anonymous and brownish. until they spawn: then they turn into a monstrous and vibrant black and cream "checkerboard pattern".
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: 80 cm (32 inches) Aquarium. Very narrow caves are essential (miniature pierced coconuts, where the male CANNOT enter), tangles of Java moss and catappa leaves. Sand or fine gravel.
Diet and Feeding: Bottom micropredator. Very easy to feed, will gulp down any carnivorous micro-granule, tubifex, bloodworms and daphnia (which it hunts among the foliage with sudden snaps).
Water Quality: Very resistant compared to Apistogramma and Ramirezi. Does not require hyper-acidic water or scorching temperatures. Grows well in normal conditioned tap water, while preferring amber waters.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Perfect for peaceful community tanks (Tetras, Rasboras) but CATASTROPHIC with other dwarf cichlids or bottom fish in aquariums under a meter (40 inches) in length. The brooding female will systematically exterminate any Corydoras or her own male if he has no space to escape.
Aquarium Breeding: Narrow cave spawners. The tiny female cleans the roof of a coconut, spawns, chases the male away and turns into a blind fury, attacking even the aquarist's hand attempting maintenance.
Risks and Diseases: Reverse uxoricide. The greatest risk in this species is that the female, once the fry are born, hunts and tears the male to pieces with bites (who is twice her size) if he cannot hide on the other side of the tank behind thick vegetation.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Coastal regions of Guyana and Suriname. Frequents very shallow flooded swamps, submerged meadows and very slow or stagnant streams, often covered by dense vegetation.
Origin
Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- They ordinarily exhibit a peaceful and somewhat shy temperament in planted tanks. They are curious but cautious, often observing surroundings from a safe cave. This peaceful nature changes dramatically to fierce protectiveness during breeding.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- These micro-predators feed on small invertebrates and insect larvae in the wild. They eagerly accept high-quality micro-pellets and live or frozen foods like daphnia. A varied protein-rich diet is essential for bringing out their golden-green colors.
- Life expectancy
- 3-5 years
- The goldeneye cichlid (Nannacara anomala) has a lifespan that typically ranges between 3 and 5 years in the aquarium under proper care. Factors such as a varied diet and constant water temperatures directly influence its longevity. Being a fish sensitive to organic pollutants, regular water changes prevent skin or gill diseases that would reduce its biological age.
- Adult size
- 7.5 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 7.5 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 5.6 cm for this species, recorded as standard length (SL). The taxonomic record consulted is Nannacara anomala (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- Harem
- Keeping one male with two or three females is the recommended harem setup. This disperses the male's breeding attention and reduces stress on females. In smaller tanks, a single bonded pair is also a viable option.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- They should be fed small portions one to two times daily. Since they feed slowly, ensure faster top-dwelling fish do not outcompete them. Offering sinking foods directly guarantees they receive adequate nutrition.
- Bioload
- Low to Medium
- The Golden Dwarf Cichlid has a very low bioload suitable for peaceful aquariums. Their small size and moderate appetite mean they produce minimal waste. Standard sponge filters or gentle hang-on-back filters are more than sufficient.
- Flow
- Strong
- They prefer slow to moderate water movement mimicking sluggish streams. Strong currents will stress them and force them to hide constantly. A gentle flow that lightly moves the plant leaves is considered ideal.
- Jump risk
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are cave spawners that choose secluded spots like coconut caves for eggs. The female assumes total responsibility for brood care and becomes fiercely aggressive. She may even attack the male, requiring plenty of hiding spaces.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Community
- They are generally peaceful community fish that can be kept with small tetras. However, females become hyper-aggressive when guarding fry against larger fish. It is best to avoid housing them with other bottom-dwelling dwarf cichlids.
- Tank level
- Middle/Bottom
- This species is heavily oriented towards the bottom and lower-middle levels. They spend their days exploring the substrate and leaf litter for food. They rarely venture to the surface unless enticed by floating food.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 3.3 ± 0.4 se
- Resilience
- High (less than 15 months)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.5156
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.01445, b = 3.08
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (10 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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