Threadfin Acara, also known as Heckelii Cichlid, is a beautiful and unique fish. The dorsal fins of these fish have threadlike markings, which is where their name comes from. The scales on their sides reflect the light in a way that makes it seem like they have bright neon lights attached to them. 
 
Threadfin Acaras come from the Amazon and other areas in South America. In the wild, they tend to live in shallow, calm water. They will swim along the bottom of the water, putting sand in their mouths. They will then sift out small pieces of food like insect larvae and crustaceans. They can also get food from other parts of the water, such as the surface, though they prefer sifting for food at the bottom. 
 
Because they come from areas near the equator, Threadfin Acaras prefer their tank water to be quite warm. You can keep the tank between 75 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and they will be perfectly happy. 
 
Threadfin Acaras are schooling fish, so you should get a couple of them at once. Since they can grow to be about eight inches long, you will need quite a large tank. A large tank will keep several Threadfin Acara and other species of fish happy and healthy.