Electric blue acara

Quick facts

Adult size

16 cm

Lifespan

can live up to 12 years

Tank zone

mid

Temperament

semi-aggressive

Difficulty

intermediate

Water parameters

Temperature

22–28°C

pH

6.0 to 8.0

Hardness

3 to 20 dGH

Tank requirements

Minimum volume

220 L

Minimum length

120 cm

Flow

moderate

Lighting

moderate

Substrate

fine

Driftwood

preferred

Hiding spots

needed

Open swimming room

needed

Feeding

Diet: carnivore, feeds primarily at the all.

Omnivore. Pellets, flake food, frozen bloodworm, frozen brine shrimp, frozen krill, blanched vegetables. Not demanding about food. Feed twice daily. A varied diet maintains the iridescent blue coloring that makes the fish desirable. Sinks to the bottom to feed; sinking pellets work better than floating food.

Compatibility

• The friendliest medium-sized cichlid in the hobby. Electric blue acaras have been selectively bred for coloring and in the process became remarkably docile for a fish of their size (15 cm). They coexist with community fish that would be terrorized by a similar-sized wild-type blue acara.
• Good tankmates: larger tetras, barbs, rainbowfish, corydoras, bristlenose pleco, and other non-aggressive medium fish. Avoid tiny fish that might be swallowed (neons, embers) and aggressive cichlids that will dominate them.
• Pairs form during breeding and both parents guard eggs, but the aggression is moderate compared to convicts or firemouths. Community tankmates can coexist if the tank is large enough (200 L) with cover.
• Often confused with the true blue acara (Andinoacara pulcher). The electric blue is a selectively bred color variant, not a separate species, though the exact lineage is debated. Some sources suggest hybridization with another Andinoacara species was involved in producing the electric blue coloring.

Habitat

The electric blue acara is a selectively bred color morph of a South American cichlid, likely derived from Andinoacara pulcher or a hybrid involving A. pulcher. The exact origin is contested in the cichlid community; the electric blue line appeared in the early 2010s from Asian breeders and the parentage wasn't documented. Wild blue acaras are found in Trinidad, Venezuela, and Colombia in slow-moving streams and rivers. The electric blue variant is covered in metallic sky-blue iridescence across the entire body and fins, which is far more intense than the wild-type's modest blue-green highlights. Adults reach 15–18 cm. Males are slightly larger with more pointed dorsal and anal fins; females are rounder when gravid. The fish is commercially bred in large quantities and is widely available at moderate prices. The electric blue coloring bred true from early on, suggesting it's controlled by a relatively simple genetic mechanism.

Breeding

Substrate spawner, similar to other Acaras. The pair selects a flat rock or piece of driftwood and the female deposits 150-300 eggs in rows. Both parents fan the eggs and remove fungused ones. Eggs hatch in 3-4 days. Fry are moved to a pit and guarded by both parents. Free-swimming fry eat baby brine shrimp and crushed flake. Parental care lasts 3-4 weeks. Electric blue acaras are willing breeders in home aquariums and don't require special conditions beyond a flat spawning surface and reasonably clean water. Young pairs may eat their first few batches of eggs; this improves with experience. The blue coloring is visible in fry from an early age.

Common problems

The selectively bred origin raises concerns about genetic health, similar to dwarf gourami iridovirus in dwarf gouramis. So far, electric blue acaras haven't shown the same level of genetic fragility, but some breeders report slightly shorter lifespans (6-8 years vs. 10+ for wild-type blue acaras) and occasional susceptibility to Hexamita. Hexamita (hole-in-the-head) is the main disease concern: pits on the head and lateral line caused by parasites, poor diet, and water quality. Treat with metronidazole. The fish's popularity has led to mass production at some farms where quality control is variable; buy from reputable sources when possible. Territorial behavior during breeding is mild but present; provide enough tank space for other fish to retreat during spawning periods.

Bioload

Bioload coefficient: 5.5 (medium cichlid; comparable to a juvenile oscar or a large angelfish).

Bioload coefficients are calibrated against the neon tetra as the anchor (1.0). See the methodology page for the formula and how each value was derived.

Further reading

• Stocking ideas by tank size