The Threadfin acara (Acarichthys heckelii) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 20 cm.
Description
Heckel's threadfin acara is a cichlid from the Amazon and Essequibo basins in South America. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a silvery-brown, deep body with a dark flank spot and thread-like extended rear dorsal and anal fin rays. It lives over calm, soft bottoms of rivers and lakes and searches the bottom for small invertebrates. Remarkably, it lays its eggs in self-dug burrows or in abandoned submerged termite mounds. The fish is harmless to humans, popular in the aquarium trade and assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Threadfin acara?
The Threadfin acara has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.
Where does the Threadfin acara live?
The Threadfin acara lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.
How big does the Threadfin acara get?
The Threadfin acara grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.
Is the Threadfin acara dangerous to humans?
No, the Threadfin acara is harmless to humans.
Is the Threadfin acara edible?
The Threadfin acara is rarely eaten.
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More from the family Cichlidae
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