Yellow acara - Aequidens metae

Food and feeding
These fish will accept all foods, bloodworms should be offered as a treat but their staple diet should consist of quality flakes or cichlid pellets.

Origin
South America; they are found in the Orinoco River basins.

Sexing
Yellow Acara are almost impossible to sex as juvenile fish. As the males mature, they will grow larger than the females and their dorsal fin will become extended. Mature females, although smaller than the males, will have a plumber body shape.

Breeding
These can be a difficult fish to breed. Lowering the water level and then filling up with warmer water may induce spawning. They are substrate spawners, add a flat surface to the tank, this will act as a spawning site. Both parents will protect the eggs which should hatch after 2-3 days. The fry can be fed on newly hatched brine shrimp.

Lifespan
The expected life span for this fish is 12 years.

Short description
Yellow Acara have a peaceful disposition, they are good tank mates for fire mouths, convicts, and Severums.