Aequidens metae Breeding Guide

Breeding Aequidens metae, a Colombian acara that spawns 200-800 eggs on flat surfaces with three weeks of biparental fry care.

Overview

Aequidens metae is a Colombian acara native to the Meta River in the Orinoco basin, where it lives in wider rivers and drainages with soft to neutral water. Reported to reach 18-20 cm, it is a substrate spawner that usually lives in pairs and provides extended biparental care.

Sexing

Males develop a slightly rounder nuchal hump and longer extensions on the dorsal and anal fins, while females appear slightly rounder in the abdominal region. These differences become clearer as fish mature.

Conditioning

Spawning is described as challenging and is encouraged by conditioning the pair on live food and by simulating seasonal water-level fluctuations, reflecting the flood cycle of its native rivers.

Breeding Setup

Provide flat, hard surfaces for egg deposition. Reported aquarium parameters are a temperature of 24-28 C, pH 6.0-7.0 and general hardness of 3-12 dGH.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Mating typically occurs in the morning. About 200-800 eggs are laid on a hard, flat surface and hatch after 2-3 days.

Egg & Fry Care

The fry begin to swim freely after about 2 days, and both parents care for them for roughly 3 weeks, guarding and herding the school.

Common Challenges

Because spawning is reported as difficult, the main hurdles are bringing the pair into condition and providing the seasonal cue; without it, pairs may not commit to a clutch.