Care
The Zebra Acara is known from shallow blackwater habitats where the water is dark and leaf litter and waterlogged wood abundant.
In the home aquarium they will appreciate a densely planted set up with plenty of driftwood and small caves. A biotope tank furnished with dead leaves and wood will suit this species well. The most appropriate tankmates are other small, peaceful fish, particularly those who occupy higher levels in the tank and are too large to be eaten. Deep-bodied tetras are a good choice and will thrive in the soft water that Ivanacara requires. Make sure that the aquarium is large enough to allow other fish to escape angry parents at spawning time and be careful if housing this species alongside peaceful bottom-dwelling species. Multiple males should not be kept together unless the tank is extremely spacious and contains numerous visual barriers amongst the decor. Filtration should be efficient but the water flow not too powerful.
Feeding
Accepts most aquarium foods offered, especially small meaty items such as frozen bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp etc, plus small cichlid pellets, flake,and vegetable matter.
Breeding
This species may require a low pH to trigger spawning depending on whether the fishes are captive bred or collected from the wild. When ready to spawn, both sexes develop a strongly contrasting striped pattern, which serves as a warning to other fishes not to approach and is a conspicuous signal for the fry to follow. As expected for a species adapted to a complex habitat with leaf litter, spawning often occurs in an enclosed site. The eggs usually hatch within 2-3 days depending on water temperature, and the female will frequently move the fry to shallow depressions made in the sand, until they are free swimming (typically another 5-7 days).
