Electric blue acara care
Andinoacara pulcher · Bred color form of the blue acara of Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad
Electric blue acaras are a bright blue form of the blue acara and among the calmer medium cichlids.
- Tank size
- 40 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 72 to 82 °F (22 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- Alone or in a pair
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Adult size
- 6 in
- pH
- 6.5 to 8
- Hardness (GH)
- 5 to 19 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8 to 10 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Easy
In a 40 gallon breeder
36 3/16 × 18¼ × 16 15/16 in outsideHow to keep electric blue acaras
Electric blue acaras are a bright blue form of the blue acara and among the calmer medium cichlids. One or a pair suits a 40 gallon or larger tank with fish too big to eat.
Diet: Omnivore: cichlid pellets, frozen foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Electric blue acara tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Bristlenose pleco
6 in · 29+ gal · 73–81 °F
Siamese algae eater
6 in · 29+ gal · 72–80 °F
Giant danio
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–79 °F
Three-spot (blue) gourami
6 in · 29+ gal · 72–82 °F
Firemouth cichlid
6 in · 40+ gal · 75–84 °F
Yoyo loach
6 in · 40+ gal · 75–82 °F
Rainbow shark
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–80 °F
Red-tail shark
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–79 °F
Keep apart
Cardinal tetra: Adult electric blue acaras eat fish under about 1.5 in; cardinal tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Green neon tetra: Adult electric blue acaras eat fish under about 1.5 in; green neon tetras grow to 1 in.
Ember tetra: Adult electric blue acaras eat fish under about 1.5 in; ember tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Chili rasbora: Adult electric blue acaras eat fish under about 1.5 in; chili rasboras grow to 0.8 in.
Celestial pearl danio: Adult electric blue acaras eat fish under about 1.5 in; celestial pearl danios grow to 1 in.
Pygmy corydoras: Adult electric blue acaras eat fish under about 1.5 in; pygmy corydoras grow to 1 in.
What an electric blue acara tank needs
A tank of 40 US gallons or more (such as the 40 gallon breeder) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Fluval U3
Rated by the maker for up to 40 US gal, which covers a 40 gallon electric blue acara tank without being built for a far bigger one.
hygger Hang-on-back Canister Filter 7W
Rated by the maker for 20–40 US gal, which covers a 40 gallon electric blue acara tank without being built for a far bigger one.
hygger Precise Aquarium Heater 200W
Electric blue acaras need 72 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding electric blue acaras.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 72 to 82 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 40 gallon tank · Heaters for a 40 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common electric blue acara problems
- Small tetras become food as they grow.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Andinoacara pulcher. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Electric blue acara 5snake5, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bristlenose pleco André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Siamese algae eater aleander2137, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Giant danio Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Three-spot (blue) gourami Peter Jung, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Firemouth cichlid H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Yoyo loach Orishas92, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rainbow shark MerlinSenger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Red-tail shark Astellar87, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Chili rasbora JoKrimmel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Celestial pearl danio Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pygmy corydoras Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Angelfish Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Discus Patrick Farrelly, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- German blue ram Eric Mengel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid William Kreijkes, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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