Albino Threadfin Acara (Acarichthys heckelii) – The Golden, Gentle Giant

The Albino Threadfin Acara (Acarichthys heckelii) is a prized and elegant South American cichlid, known for its flowing, extended dorsal fin rays—the “threads”—and its comparatively peaceful demeanor. The Albino variant is particularly stunning, featuring a creamy white to golden-pink body contrasted dramatically by bright red eyes, making the fish a brilliant focal point in a larger display tank. This large, yet mild-mannered, cichlid is one of the few Acaras suitable for larger, peaceful community setups. Its gentle digging behavior helps aerate the substrate, and its unique schooling structure (for a cichlid) makes it a rewarding subject for observation.

Key Features 

• Majestic Appearance: Features long, graceful “thread-like” extensions on the dorsal fin, giving it a regal look.

• Stunning Albino Coloration: Golden-white body with vivid red eyes, creating incredible contrast against dark substrate and décor.

• Gentle Giant: One of the most peaceful cichlids of its size, making it suitable for peaceful, larger community tanks.

• Sand Sifter: This species enjoys sifting fine sand through its gills, helping keep the substrate clean and showing off natural behaviors.

• Highly Desired Species: A relatively rare and sought-after designer variant of a classic cichlid species.

Care Requirements

• Tank Size: Minimum 75 gallons for a single fish or pair; 125 gallons or larger for a group or community setup. Requires significant swimming space.

• Water Temperature: 75–82∘F (24–28∘C)

• pH Range: $6.0–7.5$ (highly adaptable, but prefers slightly soft, acidic to neutral water).

• Diet: Omnivorous – feed a varied diet of high-quality sinking pellets, flakes, and generous supplements of frozen or live foods (earthworms, spirulina flakes, brine shrimp). They must receive appropriate nutrition to maintain their long fins.

• Tank Mates: Excellent with other large, peaceful fish such as Silver Dollars, larger peaceful tetras (like Colombian or Serpae), peaceful Plecos, Geophagus species, and larger Gouramis. Avoid overly aggressive or extremely tiny tank mates.

• Habitat Setup: Requires a fine sand substrate to facilitate natural sifting behavior. Provide driftwood and smooth rocks for territory marking, ensuring plenty of open swimming space.

Why Choose Our Albino Threadfin Acara?

Our Albino Threadfin Acaras are domestically bred for their outstanding color, fin development, and robust health. We ensure they are conditioned to a variety of foods before shipping, guaranteeing a healthy, active addition to your large aquarium.

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