Araguaia Dwarf Cichlid
Laetacara araguaiae
Hailing from Brazil, this peaceful dwarf cichlid displays brilliant blue iridescence with reddish fins. It thrives in well-planted community tanks with soft water and plenty of hiding spots.
Temperatura da água
23 - 27 °C
Valor de pH
5.5 - 7
Tipo de água
Água doce
Nível do tanque
Parte inferior
Tamanho adulto
7,5 cm
Volume mínimo do tanque
>= 80 L
Grupo mínimo
>= 2
GH
2 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 4 dKH
TDS
40 - 190 ppm
Condutividade
63 - 297 uS/cm
Descrição da espécie
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Araguaia River basin in Brazil, this species inhabits slow-moving waters, lagoons, and riverbanks dense with aquatic vegetation.
Taxonomy and Morphology: A member of the family Cichlidae. Reaches up to 7.5 cm in length. Features a rounded head profile and compressed body shape. A small dwarf cichlid with a deep, laterally compressed body and a rounded head profile. Features thick lips and large, expressive eyes.
Social Behavior: Relatively peaceful compared to larger cichlids. Becomes territorial during spawning, defending the nesting site. Best kept in bonded pairs. Relatively peaceful compared to other cichlids, making it suitable for community tanks, though it becomes territorial when breeding.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Dark body coloration highlighted by brilliant blue iridescent scales and reddish tones on the belly and fins. Males develop longer, pointed dorsal and anal fins. Displays a beautiful grayish-blue body with iridescent scales, temporary dark vertical bars, and red and blue markings on the fins.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Aquarium Setup: An 80-liter tank with soft sand, driftwood roots, and dense plantings. Provide flat stones and broad-leafed plants to serve as spawning substrates. Requires a freshwater aquarium of at least 80 liters (21 gallons), heavily planted with driftwood, roots, and flat stones for potential spawning sites.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Readily accepts dry foods. Supplement with live or frozen foods like brine shrimp, mysis, and bloodworms to encourage spawning. Micro-predator. Feed a mix of live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, and high-quality small pellets for dwarf cichlids.
Water Quality: Prefers soft, slightly acidic conditions. Keep temperature at 23-27 °C, pH at 5.5-7.0, and hardness at 2-10 dGH. Prefers soft, slightly acidic water: temperature 23-28°C, pH 6.0-7.2, and GH 5-12. Adding catappa leaves helps replicate their natural habitat.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Omnivorous. Readily accepts dry foods. Supplement with live or frozen foods like brine shrimp, mysis, and bloodworms to encourage spawning. Excellent for community tanks with small, peaceful tankmates like tetras or corydoras. Avoid housing with large, predatory, or aggressive fish.
Aquarium Breeding: Compatible with other peaceful community fish like tetras, corydoras, and small plecos. Avoid highly aggressive dwarf cichlid species. Substrate spawner. The pair cleans a flat surface (rock or leaf), deposits eggs, and actively cares for the brood, defending the nest together.
Risks and Diseases: Sensitive to sudden parameters fluctuations and high organic waste. Weekly partial water changes are essential to prevent diseases. Sensitive to accumulated organic waste (nitrites and nitrates). Regular water changes and good biological filtration are key to preventing illness.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Native to the Araguaia River basin in Brazil, this species inhabits slow-moving waters, lagoons, and riverbanks dense with aquatic vegetation.
Origem
Amazônia, Orinoco e Guianas
Perfil de peixe
- Temperamento
- Peaceful
- Overall, they exhibit a peaceful demeanor towards other species, but they are known to be territorial among their own kind. During the breeding season, both sexes become fiercely protective of their spawning sites and fry, potentially showing aggression to any intruders. Outside of breeding, they are somewhat shy and require a complex environment with plenty of hiding spaces to feel secure. Creating distinct visual barriers helps manage their territorial nature.
- Dieta
- Omnivore
- In their natural habitat, they are micro-predators that sift through the substrate for small invertebrates, insect larvae, and zooplankton. In captivity, they should be offered a varied and high-quality diet consisting of sinking micro-pellets and flakes. Supplementing their diet regularly with live or frozen foods like daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and bloodworms will promote optimal health and vibrant coloration. Variety is key to preventing nutritional deficiencies.
- Expectativa de vida
- 3-5 years
- Tamanho adulto
- 7.5 cm
- Proporção sexual
- Pair
- They are best maintained in established pairs rather than harems, as they form monogamous bonds for breeding. Keeping a single pair in an appropriately sized tank minimizes territorial disputes and stress. If maintaining a group, a significantly larger tank is required to allow multiple pairs to establish their own distinct territories. Observing their pairing behavior is one of the main appeals of keeping this species.
- Frequência de alimentação
- Twice daily
- It is highly recommended to feed them small portions once or twice daily to maintain their metabolism and overall well-being. Care must be taken to only offer an amount they can completely consume within a couple of minutes to avoid fouling the water. Overfeeding is a common mistake that can lead to severe water quality issues. Fasting the fish for one day per week can also help clear their digestive tract.
- Carga biológica
- Low
- This species has a relatively low bioload compared to larger cichlids, making it suitable for appropriately sized setups. However, they are highly sensitive to deteriorating water conditions and elevated nitrates. Maintaining pristine water quality through adequate filtration and regular water changes is absolutely crucial for their long-term health. A heavily planted tank can also help absorb excess nutrients and keep the environment stable.
- Fluxo
- Strong
- Originating from slow-moving streams, backwaters, and sluggish tributaries, they strongly prefer gentle water flow in the aquarium. Strong currents will cause them undue stress and force them to expend unnecessary energy just to maintain their position. Filtration should be baffled if necessary to provide a calm environment, particularly near the substrate where they spend most of their time. Mimicking this natural calm flow is essential for their comfort.
- Risco de salto
- No
- Reprodução
- Oviparous
- They are biparental substrate spawners, forming strong pair bonds during the breeding season. Both the male and female work together to clean a flat surface, such as a rock or broad leaf, where the eggs are laid. They share the duties of guarding the eggs, fanning them with oxygen, and protecting the fry from potential predators. This cooperative parenting behavior is a delight to observe in a well-set aquarium.
- Compatibilidade e companheiros de tanque
- Peaceful
- They are best kept in a species-specific aquarium or a peaceful community tank with small, non-aggressive dither fish like tetras or rasboras. Fast-swimming or boisterous tank mates should be avoided as they will easily outcompete this species for food and induce stress. Bottom-dwelling species such as Corydoras might face territorial disputes, especially if breeding behaviors commence. Careful selection of tank mates is necessary to ensure a harmonious environment.
- Nível do tanque
- Bottom
- These fish primarily inhabit the lower third of the water column, spending the vast majority of their day navigating the substrate. They are often seen foraging among leaf litter, driftwood, and plant roots in search of food. They rarely venture into the upper levels of the aquarium unless enticed by feeding or if they lack sufficient cover below. A well-structured bottom layout is highly appreciated.
Modelos e parâmetros científicos
FishBase
Acesso aos dados científicos oficiais da espécie
FishBase v25.04Dados sincronizados em: 15/06/2026
- Nível trófico
- 3,1 ± 0,4 se
- Unicidade filogenética (PD50)
- 0.5078
- Relação bayesiana comprimento-peso
- a = 0.02188, b = 3.05
- VulnerabilidadeVulnerabilidade baixa (10 / 100)
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