Minimum tank 40 gallons for an established pair, with room for two separate territories
Adult size About 5 in (13 cm) body length
Temperature 78–82°F (26–28°C)
Water chemistry Very soft water. Wild fish require roughly pH 4.0–5.5. Match captive-bred fish to their breeder’s water before adjusting.
Ammonia and nitrite 0 ppm
Housing & compatibility
Keep an established pair in a species aquarium with shaded cover, wood and separate retreats. Have a divider ready in case one fish repeatedly drives the other away.
Diet
Offer small live or frozen invertebrates such as brine shrimp or daphnia. Add small prepared foods once the fish accepts them reliably.
Species notes
Ivanacara adoketa. A blackwater cichlid from the Rio Negro system. Ask for current holding-water values before acclimating new fish.
