Care sheet
The Red Breasted Acara
Laetacara dorsigera
Quick care
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Online care sheet: /fish/the-red-breasted-acara/
- Tank size
- 20 gallon or larger
- Adult size
- 2 to 2.5 inches
- Temperature
- 76 - 82 F
- Origin
- Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina
- Food
- Pelleted foods, frozen, and live
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- This species is very peaceful to other fish and can be safely kept with all coryodorus and all but the smallest tetras.
- Plant safe
- Yes
- Invertebrate safe
- No
Appearance
Juvenile, adult male, and adult female
Juvenile
Juveniles are silver in appearance with brown lines that form on their flanks.
Adult male
Males become intensly red especially during spawning. These colors become very vivid as eggs are laid.
Adult female
Similar to the appearance of the male but not as intensely colored.
Husbandry notes
Laetacara dorsigera is a very challenging species to keep alive through the juvenile phase. It is highly recommended that the hobbyist watches the progress of the juveniles very carefully. The sheer quantity of off spring and the amount that each individual seems to need may exceed the resources of the tank that they are housed in. Additionally the parents are fiercely protective of the offspring so much so that they will readily corral them to places where there is not food if they perceive a threat. Thusly if the fry show signs of losing weight it is highly recommended that they be moved into separate breeding boxes In order to keep from experiencing massive losses. The newly hatched fry readily take paramecium aurellia but after a few days can be switch to brine shrimp naupli.