The yellow fin chalceus is a medium sized fish found in parts of the Amazon river basin in Peru and Brazil where it inhabits surface waters of floodplain rivers and lakes.  The yellow fin chalceus grows to an adult size of 8 inches.  There are no apparent differences between males and females.

The yellow fin chalceus should be maintained in an aquarium of 75 gallons or larger.  This fish requires a lot of swimming space, so decor is not really critical, although a soft, sandy substrate (CS6631) with some driftwood branches (ZM2000) and floating plants effectively mimics many of its natural biotopes.  Make sure the tank cover is secure, as it is an excellent jumper.  

The yellow fin chalceus prefers a temperature of 72°F to 78°F, a pH of 6.0 to 7.0, and a hardness of 5 to 15°H.  

The yellow fin chalceus does best when kept either as a single specimen, or in a group of more than six.  When kept in smaller groups, the fish tend to tussle with one another and may damage fins and scales.  Other than this, it is a good addition to many larger communities.  Tank mates may include similarly sized characins such as Leporinus, silver dollars, Brycon species, large Loricariids, pictus catfish, and cichlids such as Geophagus or Satanoperca species.  Avoid keeping other surface dwelling species unless the tank is very large.

The yellow fin chalceus feeds primarily on insects and aquatic crustaceans in the wild.  While dried foods are usually accepted, the diet should also contain meaty foods such as frozen krill (SF7136), mussels (SF8180), blood worms, and chopped earthworms.