Whilst Cichlids are tremendously popular in the hobby, only a few of them
are really suitable for community tanks. Mary Bailey of the British Cichlid
Association looks at the "Happy Acaras" which were many an
aquarist's first experience of this group.
The Happy Acara
By Mary Bailey
When South American dwarf cichlids are mentioned, most people tend to think
immediately of the Apistogramma genus, and, of course, the Ram (Microgeophagus
ramirezi). But these are by no means the only South American dwarfs, and I am
not thinking of the exotica such as Crenicara, Biotecus, Taeniacara, and
Dicrossus, either. There are two other genera, known to the hobby long before
the Ram was discovered or any of the Apistogrammas became popular, but now
often almost forgotten. Yet the dwarf acaras, Nannacara and Laetacara, are by
far the best introduction to the group for beginners, and have much to offer
the experienced cichlidophile as well. One of the species most readily
available is Laetacara curviceps, the subject of this article.
You may know this fish better as Aequidens curviceps, usually a rather
drab-looking little fish when seen in retail tanks - one of the reasons it is
so often ignored in favour of other more obviously attractive or positively
gaudy fishes. Advanced hobbyists, who are often real snobs in their choice of
fishes, may be aware of its potential glory, but tend to write this and other
dwarf acaras off as "old hat", been around for decades, not worth
bothering with. But sometimes, as we all know, ugly ducklings can turn out to
be very fine swans indeed, and the fact that a fish has been around for many
years does not make it any the less interesting if you personally have never
kept it before!
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