Nannacara anomala is a cichlid from South America, valued for its beautiful coloration, easy breeding, and exemplary care of its fry.
The Nannacara anomala is a typical species of the genus Nannacara, which belongs to the complex of related forms Nannacara bimaculata. The fish was first described by REGAN in 1905 from the Essequibo River in Guyana.
The complex Nannacara anomala is found in the coastal waters from Venezuela south to the mouth of the Amazon, while the species complex Nannacara bimaculata is found only in the interior of Guyana and in the upper basin of the Rio Negro River in Brazil. A typical feature of Nannacara anomala is their noticeably small mouth, distinct sexual dimorphism, and very contrasting coloration of the female during its care for fry. The male grows over 6 cm, while the female reaches up to 4 cm.
Homeland
Most Nannacara anomala in our conditions come from Czech, possibly European, but now also Asian breeders. Only a minority come from South America, where they live in black waters with a pH of 3.9 dGH, and 4.2,dKH under Apistogramma steindachneri.
Aquarium for Nannacara anomala
The size depends on how many fish we keep here. For a pair, 20-40 liters is sufficient; the more fish, the more space is needed. The male is the boss in the aquarium; ideally, it is good to keep several females with him. The females have their mini-territories, which the male will patrol, and even with several females, he will gradually breed. We recommend using soft to moderately hard water at 22-25°C.
Food
In the wild, they feed on small worms, insects and their larvae, and many invertebrates. In captivity, we try to prefer a varied live diet, mainly plankton and mosquito larvae, but they also accept quality pellets that correspond to the size of their mouth.
Characteristics
This is a very social and peaceful cichlid, which we keep in the company of equally peaceful and calm fish, mainly smaller tetras. However, they easily breed in a community aquarium. The female can be very aggressive when protecting her fry. Sometimes, she may also guard the swarm of daphnia or a bunch of threadworms!
Breeding
Breeding can be easily achieved in a community tank, and if there are no predatory fish present, the female will successfully guard the fry. However, it is better to provide a 20–40 liter spawning tank for a more peaceful environment, where rearing can proceed without issues. The male can be removed after spawning to prevent him from unnecessarily harassing the female. Ideal starter foods include fine brine shrimp nauplii or very fine, non-abrasive fry powder; as the fry grow, the food size should be adjusted to the size of their mouths.
Images
- The adult male Nannacara anomala is a majestic fish.
- Akarkas belong to cichlids that spawn on solid surfaces. They clean the surface thoroughly before spawning.
- Spawning is usually calm.
- The female is a model of care for her own brood and fry.
