Acanthicus adonis (L155)
Acanthicus adonis
The Acanthicus adonis (L155) (Acanthicus adonis) is an aggressive fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 1000 litres (264 US gallons), water held at 75-82°F, and a pH of 6-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Acanthicus adonis (L155) Tank Setup
Plan for at least 1000 litres (264 US gallons) with soft sand or smooth, rounded gravel - sharp substrate wears down their delicate barbels. Keep the water at 75-82°F with a pH around 6-7.5. They grow to around 80 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Acanthicus adonis Eat?
They're bottom feeders, so give them sinking wafers, tablets, or frozen treats like bloodworm once the lights go down. Flakes that never reach the bottom leave them hungry even when the tank looks well-fed.
Acanthicus adonis (L155) Tank Mates
Adonis Pleco; grows enormous. Extremely large; requires public-aquarium scale setup. Spiny and can be aggressive. The Acanthicus adonis (L155) is aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. At around 80 cm fully grown, it needs tank mates that can hold their own against its size and appetite. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Acanthicus adonis Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Acanthicus adonis (L155) - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Acanthicus adonis need?
Acanthicus adonis need a tank of at least 1000 litres (264 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Acanthicus adonis need?
Keep them at 75-82°F with a pH of 6-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Acanthicus adonis eat?
Acanthicus adonis are bottom feeders. Give them sinking wafers, tablets, and frozen foods that settle on the substrate, ideally after the lights go off. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Acanthicus adonis good for beginners?
Acanthicus adonis are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Acanthicus adonis
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 1000 litres (264 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Acanthicus adonis (L155)s will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Acanthicus adonis
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Cardinal TetraSize risk - Acanthicus adonis will likely eat Cardinal Tetra at adult size
- Bronze CoryIncompatible temperament or care requirements
