Bigeye cichlid (Acaronia nassa)

Scientific name: Acaronia nassa Heckel, 1840

The Bigeye cichlid (Acaronia nassa) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 25–28°C (77–82°F).

Bigeye cichlid care at a glance

Temperature: 25–28°C (77–82°F)

Biology

Collected from a small creek, quite sunny, with amber-colored water, slow current, muddy substrate and approximately 1 m in depth. Solitary. Feeds on shrimps, insect larvae of Odonata, Coleoptera and Hemiptera, as well as on fishes like cyprinodonts, characids. Males are bigger than females. Reproduction occurs during the rainy season. Found together with Pterophyllum scalare, Heros efasciatus, Hypselecara temporalis, and Mesonauta guyanae. Maximum length 25 cm TL.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Acaronia nassa
Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 15.4
Environment: Freshwater;; pH range: 7.0 - ?; dH range: 12 - 15 benthopelagic
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: South America: Amazonas lowlands in Peru, Brazil, and Colombia, Bolivian Amazon basin, middle and lower Negro River, Branco River, also Amap? (Brazil), the Oyapock drainage in French Guiana, and the Essequibo drainage in Guyana.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)