Aequidens metae Eigenmann 1922

In the captivity Aequidens metae shows a typical South American chichlid behaviour and needs large open swimming space as well as hiding places formed out of bogwood and rocks to feel at home. This cichlid will appreciate some live plants preferably with strong roots and plenty of substrate as it is known to dig them up.

Yellow Acara is a rather peaceful fish. Only in breeding period there is some aggression against other inhabitants.

Aequidens metae males are larger and more colorful than the females, but the female will grow thicker.

Aequidens metae is an omnivore cichlid that will eat both animal and plant sources of food. A lot of cichlids are omnivorous, although they may lean more one way or the other. They’ll eat just about anything edible that doesn’t eat them first.

Aequidens metae are substrate egg layers that practice brood care. Spawning can be induced by imitating the rainy season to the fish as they breed during this time in the nature. Lower the water level for a few days and then fill up the aquarium with fresh water and feed the fish with live foods.

Aequidens metae should be provided a variety of foods, such as frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp, bloodworms, blackworms, flake food, and cichlid pellets. Yellow Acara also relish live food and should occasionally be provided with live brine shrimp, shrimp, worms, and crickets.

Aequidens metae males are very choosy for a partner. Best is to let them choose from a group.

The female will lay the eggs in a carefully cleaned and selected location – a flat substrate that can be  smooth stones, slate or flat rock. The eggs will hatch in 2-3 days and the fry should be swimming around within a week.

The newly hatched fry can be fed a diet of baby brine shrimp and then moved to other foods as they mature.

Yellow Acara can show aggression, even more so during breeding, harassing smaller aquarium mates.