Yellow Acara

About

Found threading through creeks and small streams of the Meta River drainage in Colombia, Aequidens metae is a modestly sized cichlid that stays well under six inches and carries the quiet, purposeful character typical of many South American cichlids from the Orinoco basin. Its native waters are soft and acidic, conditions that lean toward the blackwater end of the spectrum, so replicating that chemistry in the aquarium will bring out the best in this fish and keep it healthy over the long term. Being an omnivore, it accepts a wide variety of foods without much fuss, which works in the keeper's favor. Temperamentally it sits somewhere in the middle of the cichlid spectrum: not a pushover, but not a dedicated tank-wrecker either. A reasonably sized aquarium with some structure, driftwood, leaf litter, subdued lighting, suits it well and mirrors the shaded stream habitat it comes from. This species rarely shows up in the hobby in large numbers, so finding good specimens often means connecting with specialist cichlid breeders or importers. It's a rewarding project for a keeper with some cichlid experience who wants something a little off the beaten path.