1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Peaceful.
393 species in our list are a good match.
Peaceful. Pairs defend a spawning site but rarely harm tankmates.
Flakes, pellets and frozen foods.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Hard to sex: males and females are similarly coloured, with males slightly larger; the breeding tube (venting) at spawning is the surest sign.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Cave spawner (pair) · Easy
Biparental substrate spawner: the pair lays eggs on a flat stone or leaf and both parents guard eggs and larvae; they are known as excellent parents.
Raise 6 juveniles together and let a pair form, then remove the rest or provide a very large tank.
A 60 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, flat stones, clay caves or flowerpots, and a sand bed.
Strong conditioning on frozen and live food plus a large water change with slightly warmer water.
Up to about 300 eggs.
Both parents guard the brood; feed fry newly hatched brine shrimp and finely crushed flake.
A small, easy-going acara from the lower Amazon in Brazil and a long-standing aquarium favourite, suited to community tanks.
Ernst Ahl described this small acara in 1923, originally in another genus. It is one of the gentlest South American cichlids and suits planted community tanks. Its rounded head profile gives it the 'sheepshead' name.
First described by Ernst Ahl in 1923. Named for Curviceps means 'curved head'.
16 facts checked with sources
Formerly Aequidens curviceps. Seriously Fish (citing Ottoni et al. 2009) says the description year is 1924, not the often-cited 1923. Trade names: flag acara, dwarf flag cichlid, smiling acara, sheepshead acara. Can be confused with L. dorsigera (see that file).
Seriously Fish: Laetacara curviceps · FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summaryFishBase still uses Cichlasomatinae; Catalog of Fishes places these in Cichlinae. Legacy has no family field.
FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summarySources: Seriously Fish 5.0 cm SL; FishBase 4.6 cm SL (checklist) and up to 10 cm TL (aquarium atlas). Legacy 8 cm sits between SL figures converted to TL (~6-8 cm) and the 10 cm TL maximum.
FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summary · Seriously Fish: Laetacara curvicepsInside Seriously Fish's 20-28 °C.
Seriously Fish: Laetacara curviceps · FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summaryInside both ranges.
Seriously Fish: Laetacara curviceps · FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summarySeriously Fish range used. Legacy has no hardness.
Seriously Fish: Laetacara curviceps · FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summarySeriously Fish gives no tank base. FishBase: at least 60 cm long; 60 x 30 x 30 cm = 54 L. Legacy 80 L is more generous, not unsafe.
FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summaryKept as a pair. Legacy 1.
FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summary · Seriously Fish: Laetacara curvicepsSeriously Fish rates it as a community-tank fish; no explicit 'peaceful' wording.
Seriously Fish: Laetacara curvicepsNo source names a swimming level.
FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summarySeriously Fish difficulty rating 'Beginner'. Legacy 1 = easy.
Seriously Fish: Laetacara curvicepsSeriously Fish lists Amazon, Arapiuns and Tapajós. IUCN: Least Concern (FishBase, assessed 7 Nov 2018).
Seriously Fish: Laetacara curviceps · FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summaryLegacy says males are more colourful with longer fins; FishBase says colours are similar. The venting tip is legacy advice, not checked.
FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summaryLegacy breeding.type 'cave spawner (pair)' is misleading; it is an open substrate spawner.
Seriously Fish: Laetacara curviceps · FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summaryLegacy 150-300 fits. No hatch time found.
FishBase: Laetacara curviceps summary