Yellowtail Acei
Country of Origin: 🇺🇸USAYellow Tail Acei
General Background
Yellow Tail Acei are natives of Southeastern African waters and tend to swim near the coast in the wild. Specifically, they come from Lake Malawi, the ninth largest lake in the world situated between Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. As the name suggests, they have vibrant yellow fins that contrast sharply with their blue and purple scales.
There isn’t much difference between the males and the females of the species, beyond small spots on the males’ back fins. However, both sexes are visually striking, making the Yellow Tail Acei one of the more popular options for pets.
Coming from Lake Malawi, they have several specific care requirements. For example, they prefer freshwater to saltwater heated to 72°F – 82°F with a pH balance between 7.5 and 8.7. In addition, the Yellow Tail Acei shies away from bright lights, so make sure their aquarium is equipped with dimmer bulbs than usual.
Lastly, their tank should be 70 gallons at minimum to accommodate their growth and territorial behaviors. If cared for correctly, your Yellow Tail Acei has the potential to grow up to 5 inches long and live for nearly a decade.
Tankmates
Another reason Yellow Tail Acei are so popular is because of their playful and friendly nature. While they still hold some mildly aggressive behaviors, they are more easily controlled than some other species and can get along with a wider variety of fish. However, their amiable behavior can get them bullied by more aggressive species, so it might be better to fill their tank with more Yellow Tail Acei.
If you’d like your tank to have a bit more diversity, then purchasing fish that also originate from Lake Malawi is the best way to ensure a peaceful aquarium life.
Feeds
Yellow Tail Acei are staunch herbivores and feed mainly on aquatic vegetation (making natural plants a poor choice for tank decor). Fortunately, there are flakes and pellets specific to herbivores that can form the bulk of their diets.
FAQ
How many Yellow Tail Acei for every gallon of water in the tank?
You can place 8 to 12 Acei in the tank for every 30 gallons of water it can hold. Place any more than that, and you risk overcrowding the fish, leading to poor health outcomes.
How long does it take a Yellow Tail Acei to reach its full size?
A Yellow Tail Acei can reach 2 to 5 inches within only a few months, but getting to their full-grown 8 inches can take up to a year or longer.
Stats
Scientific Name: Pseudotropheus elegans
Origin: Lake Malawi, Africa
Size: 5-6"
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Mouthbrooder
Temperament: Aggressive
DOA Policy
While this is a rare occurrence, it can and will happen from time to time. Fish are live animals and we cannot ensure that every one will arrive alive or remain alive. We do ask that if your fish arrives dead (DOA), submit a picture of the deceased fish that is in the bag within 2 hours of the delivery time of your fish. We will work quickly with you to resolve the problem.
We will offer replacement fish for any losses, but do not offer refunds at this time. We can replace fish but shipping costs is the responsibilityof the buyer. If you put the fish in your tank and it dies or is not acting properly, please contact us, with pictures,within 24 hours. We will again, do everything in our power to resolve the issue and ensure that you have a great experience with these fish.
Shipping Policy
Most Shipments will be UPS Next Day Air unless otherwise noted. Processing fish for your order can take up to 2 business days. This is to ensure your fish and healthy, happy, and ready to be put in your tank when it arrives. We ship fish on Mondays- Wednesday (excluding holidays) to ensure fish arrive before weekends. This allows us to completely prepare the fish for shipping and ensure they are healthy prior to arrive at your door. All fish will be shipped with oxygenated water and specific additives in the water to ensure they maintain their health and stability during shipment. Depending on the species of fish and current weather conditions, the fish may arrive with a heat pack or ice pack to maintain the optimal temperature which further ensures the health and safety of your fish. All costs of shipping (postage, packaging,heat/ice packs, etc.) are included in the Shipping fee. We ship to only the continental United States.
FAQ
"The fish I received do not look like the fish in thepicture. Why is this?"
- We typically take photographs of one or two fish when we initially get them in. Since we have a large quantity of most of the various species of fish, it would be understandably impossible to provide a picture ofevery individual fish with a specific species. For some of our more rare orlarger fish, the picture listed may be the actual fish that you are receiving.If this is the case, it will be designated by ?WYSIWYG?, meaning ?what you see,is what you get?.
"What happens if my fish arrive dead?"
- While this is a rare occurrence, it can and willhappen from time to time. Fish are live animals and we cannot ensure that everyone will arrive alive or remain alive. We do ask that if your fisharrives dead (DOA), submit a picture of the deceased fish that is in the bag.We will work quickly with you to resolve the problem. We will offer replacement fish for any losses, but do not offer refunds at this time. We will reship any replacement fish at the buyer's expense. If you put the fish in your tank and it dies or is not acting properly, please contact us, with pictures, within 24 hours. We will again, do everything in our power to resolvethe issue and ensure that you have a great experience with these fish.
"What if I'm not home when the fish arrive?"
- We will always provide you with a tracking number. While the fish are packaged to survive about 72+ hours within the shipping containers, we do ask that you make arrangements to arrive home to inspect your fish as soon as possible after they are delivered to your home. Itis always suggested to provide an area for the delivery person to place the boxthat is out of direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.
"What do I do with my fish once I've unpacked them?"
- Like you would with any new fish, let the entire bag float in your tank for 15-30 minutes. This allows the temperature withinthe bag to adjust to the same as your tank and will reduce temperature shock onthe fish. After this time, you can add all of the fish and water that is in thebag into your tank. The products used within the water for shipping will notharm any existing fish within your tank and actually makes the transition foryour new fish a bit easier. After this, expect your new fish to take a few daysto become fully adjusted, this includes hiding, floating at the top, sinking tothe bottom, and not eating. After a few days, your new fish should be acting aswimming like they normally would. At this point, enjoy your aquarium!
"I want to return my new fish because x,y,z?"
- Unfortunately, we are unable to accept returns.We do recommend contacting us via email with yourorder number and as much information as possible. We will try to assist you inresolving whatever the issue may be.