Nannacara Anomala (Golden Eyed Dwarf Cichlid)

[danajs]

Hi all,

I’m wondering if anyone has any experience in keeping this species within a community setup?

Seen in my LFS today, did some research and they are recommended as a community species, but this evening I’ve read horror stories about them being psychopaths! I understand they can show aggression when spawning and when they have fry.

Currently in my 120l with 3 Honey Gouramis, 8 Rummynose Tetra, 8 Tiger Barbs (not too concerned about these guys, as I think they can hold their own pretty well) and 6 Peppered Corys.

Watching them this evening and everyone seems fairly chilled, they’ve been fed some frozen bloodworm and are all going about their fishy business.

The Nannacaras (1 male and 2 female, as recommended) seem fairly unbothered by everyone else in the tank.. I’m just wondering if this could all change.

The tank itself is fairly heavily planted with Hygrophila Polysperma, Amazon Sword (one of the Ozelot varieties), twisted Vals, Crypt (a large variety and Parva, Alternanthera Reineckii, Pogostemon (was Erectus - unsure of the new name it’s been given) and Rotala ‘Orange Juice’. As well as dwarf water lettuce floating plant and Anubias. Also has a centrepiece of wood - I can’t remember the exact type, but a finer and more ‘spider’ effect type of wood.

Thank you in advance

 

[danajs]

These are the fish in question.

Watching everyone further, with the exception of one ‘runt’ Barb and one ‘runt’ Cory (I hate using that word, but they are considerably smaller than the others), everyone in the tank is fairly evenly sized at the moment and everyone grows to a somewhat similar size (ranging from 5cm - 8cm on average).

 

[GaryE]

I kept and bred them a number of years ago, and really liked them. After the first spawning grew up, I had them in 3 tanks, but stopped breeding them and eventually put them out in our fish club for others to enjoy.

They were aggressive in defence of their young, but from an another angle, their tankmates would have eaten their fry. I didn't find them more aggressive than any Apistos I bred.

I've read horror stories about them attacking Corys specifically. It didn't happen here, but the stories were told by respected sources. I suspect individuals vary, and that they may have had small tanks. I wouldn't keep Corys and any dwarf Cichlid together in a tank of less than a metre.
Here, they did no damage to tetras or other fish. They made them nervous, but as long as everyone has somewhere to run away to, it works. I expect any tetra that dove in after a fry could get hit hard.

It's a good fish, and one I think you'll enjoy. Make sure each female has her own territory.

 

[danajs]

I kept and bred them a number of years ago, and really liked them. After the first spawning grew up, I had them in 3 tanks, but stopped breeding them and eventually put them out in our fish club for others to enjoy.

They were aggressive in defence of their young, but from an another angle, their tankmates would have eaten their fry. I didn't find them more aggressive than any Apistos I bred.

I've read horror stories about them attacking Corys specifically. It didn't happen here, but the stories were told by respected sources. I suspect individuals vary, and that they may have had small tanks. I wouldn't keep Corys and any dwarf Cichlid together in a tank of less than a metre.
Here, they did no damage to tetras or other fish. They made them nervous, but as long as everyone has somewhere to run away to, it works. I expect any tetra that dove in after a fry could get hit hard.

It's a good fish, and one I think you'll enjoy. Make sure each female has her own territory.

Thank you. They certainly are beautiful little fish and not one I’ve seen before!

Like you say, I guess it depends on the individuals - for example, I’ve had Betta in the past that would happily live with RCS and others that would slaughter the entire lot of them!

I’ve read bad things about Electric Blue Acaras, but my mum has had several of them over recent years and keeps them with smaller Tetras, Corys, Gouramis, etc. with absolutely no issues - she’s personally found them to be one of the most peaceful fish going! Sadly a little too large for my setup as her tank is almost twice the litre-age of mine!

 

[anewbie]

Those look like healthy specimen - i had one fantastic male who lived 4 years that was bred by a hobbist but since then i've never been able to get a decent set - most are cz bred I think and not as durable. I did try keeping multiple females but i found it ill advised in practice as the females will go balistic on each other. I have one female left who is a clever little devil and i think she will make a full recovery (very long story - but she is now about 2 1/2 years old).
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Your tank is border line small if one of your female breeds as they can be hyper aggressive but it comes down to individual fishes. I breed a ton of dwarf cichild right now and find a wide range from species to species with some needing 4 or 5 inches to feel their frys are safe and others closer to 20 inches.