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Etymology: dorsigera: unknown

Synonyms: Acara dorsigera, Aequidens dorsigera, Aequidens dorsigerus, Aequidens dorsiger

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Order: Perciformes Family: Cichlidae, subfamily: Cichlasomatinae

First European import: Unknown

Description: See picture. Adult fish are much more colorfull, with a stripe extending from the eye to the middle of the body, and with a red belly.

Care: Peacefull species, that does not eat plants. Can be kept in pairs in a species tank, but wil also do fine in a community tank. Laetacara dorsigera requires some free swimming space, a well planted tank with stones and driftwood in between which the fish can hide.

Temperature:23-30°C

Feeding: Omnivorous, small live, frozen and flake food.

Size: Up to 8 cm

pH: 6.0-7.5 dGH up to 20

Breeding: Not to difficult. A suitable pair will spawn on a vertical substrate. Water soft to medium hard, temperature above 25 degrees. Up to 300 small eggs are laid, which hatch after two days and are guarded for over three weeks by both parents. Fry are sensitive, especially to sudden changes in the waterquality.

Sexual dimorphism: Males larger with more developed fins.

Prices:Unknown

Additional:

Picture references: Picture 1: E. Naus

References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)

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