Their dorsal fin starts about a quarter of the way back from the front of their body and extends all the way back to the start of their caudal fin. Or you landed on here because you had no idea what they are? The natural habitat of the electric blue acara has a diverse range of plant species. . In the aquarium hobby, the electric blue acara is a favorite cichlid to keep due to its bright coloration, hardiness, conforming temperament, and easy breeding. For a single Electric Blue Acara, you would require a 30-gallon tank. When coupled with the electric blue acara, they come in various colors and patterns. Any single-tailed goldfish with this trait is a Shubunkin, even if it was bred from another line. Some even create breeding pits where they spawn, including the electric blue acara. Get a double tier stand and have 2 tanks. Since the female and male will be exceptionally active at the bottom of the tank during the breeding process youll want to stick with soft substrate (like sand). If you have a fish suffering from pH shock, youll have to rely on the fishs hardiness and a little luck. While a hybrid, the electric blue acara is still regarded as the Andinoacara pulcher species. The upper or middle level of the aquarium houses most electric blue acaras. All in all, the electric blue acara has very basic cichlid care requirements. While setting the tank for your Electric Blue Acara, keep in mind the following aspects: Tank Size. With that being said, there are still some care guidelines that youll need to abide by if you want them to live a long and happy life. In fact, Electric Blue Acara care is something that pretty much anyone can manage. Because theyre hybrids, they exist only in the aquarium hobby and have been exposed to the most common health problems. The Aquarium Guide (TAG) was started to provide high-quality aquarium and aquascaping information, articles, and techniques in an easy to use and understand format. To do this youll want to mimic their natural environment as much as you can. > February 03, 1963 > Page G-7, Image 75 Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1777-1963 or use the U.S. The bacteria that you need in your biological filter media need the ammonia in untreated water to start the nitrogen cycle. The cory catfish is a shoaling fish that cleans the bottom. Put the blue acaras in one tank and leave the other fishes where they are. If you want the color of a small diano but cant keep it with electric blue acara as EBAs will eat it, the huge danio is the next best thing. He started in the aquarium hobby at the age of 11 and along the way worked at local fish stores. The pair will fiercely protect their fry for up to two weeks, and will be ready to breed again shortly after this time period. Angelfish have a distinct appearance when compared to other fishes. They are regarded as a beginner cichlid species, forgiving imperfections and wavering water parameters. It all boils down to the kind of cichlids you have. The Electric Blue Acara (Andinoacara pulcher) is a fish in the rather extensive Cichlidae family. It is a member of the cichlid family and can grow to be up to 10 inches in length. Malawi bloat is a common disease of cichlids. Theyre an extremely well-liked fish among aquarists and in recent years weve seen interest in them increase even more. Treat the whole tank, raising the temperature to 82o F for three days, and use an over-the-counter, condition-specific remedy. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Electric Blue Acara Fry .75" -1.25" at the best online prices at eBay! Visit The Aquarium Guide (TAG)'s profile on Pinterest. M. If left in the wild, a blue acara can live twice as long as that! As it gets close to spawning time, the male and female fish will display to each other more and more frequently until they are ready to spawn, and their color will increase in intensity. Fortunately, Acaras are pretty robust and rarely develop severe diseases. Although Electric Blue Acara are pretty low-maintenance fish, we recommend spending a little time to ensure that their habitat is suitable. Allow 15 gallons of water per additional Acara that you add. You can generally prevent this issue by getting a right-sized aquarium with enough fish and places to hide. On average, these fish live to be anywhere from 7 to 10 years old. The first thing you will need is at least a 75 gallon aquarium. The male will quickly fertilize them once laid. Scouts honor . Even though this is another pH alteration of the same magnitude,your fish is more likely to settle down when youreturn waterto its original condition of comfort. Filtration and other aquarium equipment should also be cleaned every few months depending on waste and algae buildup. Although these are one of the more peaceful cichlids, the Electric Blue Acara can be territorial and mildly belligerent, especially when spawning, so I recommend that you keep your specimens with other large cichlids. The electric blue acara is a large fish that needs plenty of open swimming space and decorations to rearrange. The julii and sterbai are both typical gentle bumbling Cory's the sterbai being the bigger of the two. Electric blues are large fish, so they need to be given plenty of space, especially if planning to keep a pair with other tank mates. If you're a fan of gouramis but don't have a large enough tank, the dwarf gourami is a good alternative. In this article, we will go for ten of the best Blue Acara tank mates, including some interesting facts about each of them. Its possible that they will create a pit in the substrate where they will move the fry once hatched. With this in mind, it is a good idea to have a group of electric blue acara fish that gives them the freedom of choice, and when you know which pair to breed you can move them over to a 20-gallon breeding tank. The electric blue acara, also known by its scientific name andinoacara pulcher hybrid, is a freshwater fish which relative the blue acara, is native to Colombia, Venezuela, and other countries in South America. Good live plants for electric blue acaras include: These fish dont need a lot of plant coverage, but a backdrop of green will especially make their colors pop out. Min Tank Size: 30 Gallons. Dont be mistaken by the popularity of dwarf South American cichlids. So, every week you must carry out partial water changes to remove excess ammonia and nitrites and to keep nitrate levels down. Blue fish are unique and special-looking since blue is found in nature much more rarely than other colors. This difference in size is not always a tried and true method to tell male and female fish apart, though, especially if theyre still juveniles. However, if you have any additional questions or suggestions on how we can improve this guide we would love to hear from you! While this might seem complicated at first, it really isnt. Blue Acara enjoy caves and areas of dense planting where they can hide if they feel stressed. Discus is a social fish that you should keep in schools, and they rarely bother the other fish in the tank. During spawning times, electric blue acara will become noticeably more aggressive and territorial. I can almost always see at least 6, and sometimes all 9, hanging out at the front of the tank. As weve mentioned earlier, Electric Blue Acara are the exception to the rule when it comes to cichlid aggression. These fish swim in all areas of the tank but mostly tend to hang out in the lower to mid regions. Size matters, in this scenario, for the fish to live peacefully together. Electric blue acaras are an extremely popular hybrid cichlid. The fishes have to thrive in very soft water from very hard water. So, you can probably house ten African cichlids in a 55-gallon tank. These Dwarf rainbows are prefect for smaller aquariums. That behavior in the fishes wild environment enables them to find food, but in the home aquarium, the Acaras habit of persistently disturbing the substrate can be a nuisance, especially if you have live plants in the setup. Primarily, this means youll want to have plenty of hiding places where they can feel safe. Temperature and water quality are far more important to angels than the electric blue acara. I'm looking for any opinions on adding my two Regular Blue Acara in with them. Electric blue acara fish are omnivores and can eat both live animals, plants, and vegetables, but they are closer to being carnivores than anything else. Stress can accumulate in fish resulting in health problems just like in humans. Being able to care for a stunning fish like the electric blue acara is a great way to gain confidence as a hobby aquarist, so make sure you have a tank that is not too small, a stable water temperature, an appropriate tank mate, and nutritious fish food.You can soon witness it swimming happily in the tank. While the electric blue acara is one of the most adaptable cichlid tank mates, theyre not right for every home aquarium setup. Floating plants are also a good choice, as they help to diffuse the lighting and provide shelter for fry. Because blue acaras are not all that common and I would guess the electric blue is in fact a jack Dempsy. It is not recommended to only keep one single electric blue acara as this could cause stress in the form of aggression or reclusion. In male specimens, the fins are longer than the females, and the rays of the anal and dorsal fins typically arch around the caudal fin. This saves some confusion about sexing them and gives the hobbyist several pairs to choose from. Dont feed them an entirely protein-based diet simply because they seem to enjoy it. This can go a long way in keeping them happy and providing comfort and enrichment. They are rambunctious and may prey on electric blue acara if bored. Poor food, poor water quality, and the bacteria clostridium difficile have all been key contributors. Electric Blue Acara are a beautiful and easy to care for freshwater fish. They are regarded as a beginner cichlid species, forgiving imperfections and wavering water parameters. As a cichlid species, they can also be territorial, especially the males during spawning times. Contrary to popular belief, fish can grow irritated in the same way as humans do. What sets the Blue Acara apart is its remarkably vibrant coloration. They have also been documented in several other countries as nonnatives, but little documentation of their range exists. However, males and females can be difficult to tell apart, especially when theyre typically sold as juveniles in aquarium stores. Electric Blue Acara Care. Variations in their diet will help keep your electric blue acara motivated and prevent it from getting bored. Thanks for the help. While electric blue acaras arent schooling fish, they definitely prefer to be in groups with their own kind. Now, you can add your plants. Theyre found in tanks, The Dojo Loach (aka Weather Loach or Pond Loach) is one of our all-time favorite freshwater species. The Electric Blue Acara is typically smaller and more brightly colored than the normal Blue Acara. For more information, please see our Unlike other similar cichlids, the electric blue acara is an egg layer and not a mouthbrooder. They are the ideal tank mates for a community of electric blue acara. The electric blue acara is not usually aggressive or territorial. Let them pr off and then separate the prs into their own tanks or keep 1pr and get rid of the rest. Plants and vegetation are frequently floating on the surface of the bodies of water that electric blue acara inhabit. 1 Bristle Nose Pleco. The electric blue acara is a hardy fish that generally adapts to most aquarium water conditions. Shrimps and small fish give blue cichlids a special treat. Skin ulcers, reddening of skin, cloudy eyes. Sick fish flick against solid surfaces, breathe rapidly, develop a rash of white spots on gills, body, and fins. The first tank has two huge fancy goldfish who are almost ten years old and still looking as good as ever. Freshwater diseases affect electric blue acaras due to inadequate food and bad water conditions. This will give them enough space to swim and be active. Plants that can gain traction in the aquarium substrate, as well as floating plants, are best. Q: How many Electric Blue Acaras can be kept in a 75 gallon tank? Always ask the store representative to watch them eat; if there is any refusal, the fish is most likely sick or stressed. At this point, the fry or the parents may be removed from the tank to increase survival chances. Blue acaras grow to a decent size and need room to swim. To get a breeding pair, its recommended to purchase a small group of juveniles and allow them to pair off on their own. Unless there is food collected in the substrate, it will rarely travel to the bottom of the tank. Dempsey should have 3-4 meals a day. This temperament combined with their ease of care makes them a very easy fish to keep! Simply dont exceed two meals a day and give them an amount that they can eat in a couple of minutes. . Its no mystery why this already popular fish is being found in more and more freshwater tanks around the world. The electric blue acara is not a naturally occurring fish. As always, its recommended to quarantine new fish for at least three weeks before adding them to a new system. Poor water quality can result in the fish's immune system becoming weakened, leaving it vulnerable to diseases. Fish are fascinating creatures that come in practically every size, shape, and color. And, remember to share the article with your fishkeeping friends if you loved it! Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. A variety of events might create stress in fish. Starting at the front of their dorsal fin and extending down to their upper lip is a dark grey patch devoid of any blue. You will need at least a 30 gallon aquarium for the Electric Blue Acara. As mentioned before, it can be difficult to tell the males apart from the females. If you dont want to hassle with this then you can feed them pellets and flake fish food provided it has enough nutritional value to keep them healthy. Have you seen a Hillstream Loach and wondered why they look the way they look and if you could own them? That said, its best to avoid keeping shrimp or very small fish species with Acaras, as these little guys will most likely become lunch. They will be the star of your tank no matter what other fish you have! That will help to keep the fish healthy and bring out its most vibrant colors. Electric Blue Acara care is fairly straightforward and easy to manage no matter how experienced you are. Electric Blue Acara are omnivores but eat a lot of live critters in the wild. Use an aquarium gravel vacuum cleaner to remove fish waste, uneaten food, and plant debris from the substrate. These fish are a flash of brilliant light in the aquarium with their bright blue bodies! The electric blue acara is a freshwater species of cichlid. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Tank Setup: Amazone biotope tank with plenty of leaf litter and wood. While these fish are relatively mellow, they have specific requirements that you need to play attention to for them to thrive. They are quiet and hang out towards the aquariums bottom. Then, the parent electric blues will deliver food to the fry, so small foods, like baby brine shrimp, should be supplemented. You can also treat your fish with vegetables like broccoli on special occasions. I have 9 pearl gouramis in my 40 gallon breeder. The leaves give the setup a natural vibe, as well as offering a platform for colonies of naturally occurring microbes to grow on. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a937fd7346e57686c00104913875bb53" );document.getElementById("c8f286cabb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Get the latest on sales, new posts, and new videos! Apr 12, 2022. The females get slightly larger than the males and have short fins. Quarantine all affected fish and treat using antibiotics, such as Octozin or Metronidazole. Caring for blue andinoacara pulcher cichlids isnt very hard, and the electric blue acara is one of theeasiest fish to keepand requires very little care. While the practical benefits of owning this fish are certainly a plus, the main draw is their striking blue appearance. These cichlids love to swim and explore, and it wont be happy unless it can do so freely. This filter should be rated for at least 2x the size of the tank as these are relatively big fish. Which Fishes Are Incompatible With Electric Blue Acaras? A pair thats about to mate will start to interact with each other more often than before. Learn how your comment data is processed. This means if you have two of these cichlids youll need 45 gallons.