Laetacara fulvipinnis

Overview

Laetacara fulvipinnis is a small cichlid from Venezuela and northern Brazil, named for the reddish-yellow tones of its anal and tail fins. Before formal description it circulated as Laetacara sp. 'orangeflossen'.

Distribution & habitat

Its native range includes the upper and middle Orinoco, the Casiquiare connection, and the upper and middle Negro. Confirmed records extend between Puerto Ayacucho in Venezuela and Barcelos on Brazil's Negro. Occurrence in eastern Colombia is plausible but remains speculative.

Collections came from clear, soft, acidic, tea-colored black water. Fish commonly occupied very shallow stream margins, about 10–50 cm deep, among leaves or submerged plants. Low mineral content and sheltered margins characterize these records; collection depth does not establish a particular swimming level in an aquarium.

Diet & feeding

Suggested natural foods include algae, organic debris, small insects, worms, and crustaceans. It generally feeds readily in captivity. Alternate small live or frozen foods such as bloodworms, Daphnia, and brine shrimp with quality flakes or granules, including plant- or algae-enriched preparations.

Sexual dimorphism

Males grow larger and develop longer dorsal, anal, and tail-fin extensions. Older males tend to have a steeper forehead. Both sexes acquire red on the lower head, gill covers, and front of the body during reproductive condition, so red coloration alone does not identify a male.

Breeding

Eggs are placed on a fixed surface such as a plant leaf, with care by both parents. Incubation lasts about three days; young become free-swimming approximately another week afterward, rather than one week counted from laying.

Notes

The tail lacks a conspicuous pattern of small pale dots, and scaling around the dorsal-fin base is limited. Use these features with fin-ray and scale counts instead of relying solely on an orange-fin trade label.