Flag Acara (Smiling Cichlid)
Laetacara curviceps
The Laetacara curviceps (commonly known as Flag Acara or Smiling Cichlid) is the forgotten jewel of fishkeeping. Often ignored because of its dull juvenile coloration, this small Acara transforms into a breathtaking, stocky and robust adult fish, exhibiting a deep turquoise/teal body, dotted with silver, a firm black line along the eye and fins bordered in bright red. Less chemically demanding than Rams and decidedly less aggressive than Apistogramma, the Curviceps combines fantastic rusticity with an adorable temperament, being perhaps the calmest and most peaceful cichlid that can be housed in an 80 cm (30-inch) community aquarium.
Température de l’eau
22 - 26 °C
Valeur du pH
5.5 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
7 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 80 L
Groupe minimal
>= 2
GH
1 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 5 dKH
TDS
25 - 200 ppm
Conductivité
39 - 313 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Lower Amazon basin, Brazil (e.g. Tapajós tributaries). Populates the flooded margins, quiet areas with slow or stagnant waters (clear or blackwater) full of riparian or floating vegetation.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Flag Cichlid (Laetacara curviceps). Dwarf cichlid (maximum 7 cm / 2.7 inches) known as the "Smiling Acara". Moderately high body, curved head profile (curviceps) and upturned mouth.
Social Behavior: Incredibly shy and peaceful, perhaps one of the quietest dwarf cichlids. Stays hidden in small groups among the fronds, moving slowly. Rarely manifests aggression unless strictly around the eggs.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Beautiful but elusive. Cyan and light blue metallic reflections on a blue-gray/olive base, often with a dark zigzag lateral line. The fins are spotted with teal. When spawning, the belly turns purplish. Males slightly larger and more pointed.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Needs constant visual covers. Densely planted aquariums (60-80 cm / 24-32 inches min) with abundant Salvinia or Pistia on the surface. Refuges formed by bogwood roots, coconut shells and dead leaves are essential to see it calm.
Diet and Feeding: Micro-predator and Insectivore. Grazes on small crustaceans and larvae from plant surfaces. In the aquarium it eats small-caliber dry food but must be regularly spoiled with live or frozen daphnia to show its flashes of color.
Water Quality: Prefers acidic waters (Ph 6.0) but resists well up to 7.5. Fundamental is the very slow flow, powerful wavemakers will exhaust them confining them to a corner of the tank.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Excellent. Perfect with shy Tetras (Neon, Ember tetra), hatchetfish (Carnegiella) and very small loricariids. Tends to be submissive and not feed if paired with overly expansive Apistogramma or Ramirezi.
Aquarium Breeding: Open Spawner. They choose pre-cleaned round stones or large Echinodorus leaves. They lay up to 200 eggs; form a lasting pair that defends the offspring together (although often, in the first attempts, they devour them in prey to inexperience).
Risks and Diseases: Discoloration (Stress). In stores and tanks poor in shelters, the curviceps looks like an insignificant mud-gray fish. Only optimal home conditions will unlock the blue livery.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Lower Amazon basin, Brazil (e.g. Tapajós tributaries). Populates the flooded margins, quiet areas with slow or stagnant waters (clear or blackwater) full of riparian or floating vegetation.
Origine
Amazonie, Orénoque et Guyanes
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Peaceful
- This is a generally peaceful dwarf cichlid that rarely bothers non-cichlid tank mates. They do become notably territorial when preparing to spawn or guarding their fry. Providing ample visual barriers and hiding spots ensures that any aggression is well mitigated.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- They are omnivorous micro-predators that forage on benthic invertebrates and plant matter in the wild. In captivity, they readily accept sinking pellets, high-quality flakes, and granular foods. Live or frozen bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp should be offered regularly for optimal health.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-8 years
- Taille adulte
- 7 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Pair
- Keeping them in compatible pairs is the most successful approach for long-term harmony. If kept in groups, multiple females per male can be housed in sufficiently large tanks to disperse aggression. During breeding, even a bonded pair will become highly territorial toward conspecifics.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- Adults should be fed one or two small meals per day. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and rapidly degrade water quality in the aquarium. Fasting them for one day a week can closely mimic natural food availability and promote digestive health.
- Charge biologique
- Low to Medium
- This dwarf cichlid has a moderate bioload that is easily managed in appropriately sized aquariums. They consume significant amounts of food but their small adult size limits overall waste production. Regular water changes and a high-quality biological filter will effortlessly maintain water stability.
- Courant
- Weak
- They originate from slow-moving or stagnant waters in the Amazon basin. A gentle to moderate current is strongly preferred over strong, turbulent flow. Ensure that the filtration system does not create a vortex that exhausts these rounded fish.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are biparental substrate spawners that typically lay their eggs on flat stones or broad leaves. Both parents fiercely defend the eggs and the resulting fry from potential predators. Soft, slightly acidic water and varied high-protein meals are usually required to trigger spawning.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Peaceful
- It is highly peaceful for a cichlid and does remarkably well in community setups. They should not be kept with overly aggressive or large predatory fish. Ideal tank mates include tetras, pencilfish, and peaceful bottom dwellers like Corydoras.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- They predominantly inhabit the middle and lower regions of the aquarium. Providing plenty of driftwood, leaf litter, and flat stones makes them feel at home near the substrate. They will venture higher during feeding times but prefer the safety of the bottom.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,2 ± 0,4 se
- Résilience
- Élevée (moins de 15 mois)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5078
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.02188, b = 3.05
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
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