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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Golden dwarf cichlid
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Golden dwarf cichlid

Nannacara anomala · Neon dwarf cichlid, Golden dwarf, Nannacara, Blue dwarf

Peaceful with small fish but males flare at each other.

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7.6 cmBody length, without tail ✓
22–26 °CTemperature ✓
5.5–7.5pH ✓
52 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Golden dwarf cichlid is tropical.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Not recommended
  • Giant gourami eats animals up to about 10 cm. Golden dwarf cichlid only grows to 7.6 cm.
Not recommended
  • Oscar eats animals up to about 12 cm. Golden dwarf cichlid only grows to 7.6 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.5.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

391 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓3–8 dGH
Group size ✓3 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful with small fish but males flare at each other.

Food

Frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and quality flakes.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males are much bigger and more colourful (pale blue, green and red) with more elongated unpaired fins; females are smaller and yellowish with a dark lateral stripe, turning to a checkerboard pattern when breeding.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner (harem) · Moderate

Easy cave/shelter spawner, often in harems. Only the female cares for the eggs and fry while the male defends the wider territory; during spawning the female takes on a checkerboard pattern that the fry recognise.

Pairing

Keep one male with 2-4 females; each female claims a cave, pot or coconut shell.

Setup

A 30 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, fine sand, many small caves, terracotta pots and leaf litter, with soft, slightly acidic water.

What starts it

Soft, slightly acidic water, warmer temperatures, frequent water changes and live or frozen foods.

Eggs

Up to about 300 eggs.

Raising the fry

The female guards the wrigglers and then the free-swimming fry; feed microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp from day 4-5.

Common mistakes
  • Too few hiding places
  • Hard, alkaline water
  • Several males in a small tank
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionGuianas – Guyana, Suriname & French Guiana
Rivers and lakesCoastal rivers of the Guianas
HabitatSlow, shaded streams and swamps
Native rangeAbout 400 km across
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The story of the golden dwarf cichlid

A small, hardy dwarf cichlid from coastal Guyana and Suriname, regarded as an excellent beginner's cichlid; most shop fish are farm-bred in the Far East or Eastern Europe.

Regan described this dwarf cichlid in 1905. Males are golden with a greenish sheen. It is a hardy, easy-breeding species.

First described by C. Tate Regan in 1905.

  • Females turn dark with a checkered pattern when guarding young.
  • Males are much larger than females.
  • It is one of the easiest dwarf cichlids to breed.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources