Subfamily: Cichlasomatinae
Size (adult):
Males: 2 ½-3 inches
Females: 1 ½ inches
Natural Habitat: They can be found in the Aruka River in Guyana, Maroni River in Surinam and sometimes flooded grasslands in low-lying coastal areas.
Distribution: Most of the ones on the market are bred in commercial farms in Asia and Eastern Europe.
In the Aquarium: For a male and female breeding pair, a 15 gallon species only tank will suffice. For a community with the pair and other fish, a 20 gallon long is appropriate. They prefer driftwood, rocks, clay pots and caves to provide places to spawn.
Water parameters:
Temperature: 72-78? F
PH: 6-8
Hardness: 3-8? dH
Ammonia & Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0-30 ppm
Salinity: Freshwater
Diet: They are naturally micro-predators, foraging for worms, insects and other invertebrates in the wild. They accept dry foods such as meaty cichlid staple foods. Their diet should be supplemented with both vegetative matter (spirulina flakes or chunked cucumber) and frozen foods (mainly bloodworms and brine shrimp). Live foods are the best food available for them, of which brine shrimp, bloodworms, black worms and glass-worms are great ways to get them to spawn.
Behavior: Although they mostly peaceful in both community and species-only set ups, they can be very aggressive when spawning.
Sexing: This species is easy to sex at the adult age. Males are 1-1 ½ inches larger than females, and are much more colorful. Males usually exhibit pale blues, greens and reds while females are typically yellow or brown with a black horizontal stripe on the flank. Females will have a checkerboard-like pattern when in the spawning mood.
Male:
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Female:
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Spawning: This species is relatively easy to breed. In appropriate water conditions, a single male and female will likely breed. Breeding is even easier in a larger tank with more than one female to a single male. A four foot long tank is adequate to house more than one male and female to accommodate for aggression.
In general, Nannacara anomala are very easy to keep and breed. They are attractive and small, and are a great addition to the aquarium.
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