Despite its small size minimum base dimensions of60 30cmor equivalent are recommended for long-term care, though smaller aquaria can be used for breeding.

Best-maintained in a well-structured set-up, ideally comprising a sandy substrate plus some driftwood roots and branches.

The addition of dried leaf litter further emphasises the natural feel and as well as offering additional cover for the fish brings with it the growth of microbe colonies asdecompositionoccurs.

These can provide a valuable secondary food source forfryand the tannins and other chemicals released by the decaying leaves are also considered beneficial for fishes from blackwater environments. Alder cones may also be used for the latter purpose.

This species seems to do best under fairly dim lighting. You can add aquatic plant species that can survive under such conditions such asMicrosorum,TaxiphyllumorCryptocorynespp., while floating vegetation, especiallyCeratopterisspp., is also useful.