TankBud

One species · 1 variety

Blue acara

Andinoacara pulcher

FreshwaterFish

Blue acara (Andinoacara pulcher)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
42 gal
160 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

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One setup covers every line on this page: care is the species' care.

Overview

The blue acara is a good first cichlid for a keeper with a little experience. It swims in the middle of the tank and fits a community of sturdy fish.

Did you know

A bonded pair of blue acaras will clean a flat rock, lay their eggs, then guard and shepherd the fry together. That gives you the full cichlid parenting display from a species that is not hard to keep.

Caring for the blue acara

Plan on at least 42 gal (160 L) for blue acaras, and more for a pair plus tank mates. Give them open swimming space, some flat stones for spawning and a few hiding spots. They dig, so anchor plants well.

Keep the water at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C), with a pH from 6.5 to 8.0. Feed quality pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms, with the odd bit of vegetable matter.

Blue acaras are mostly peaceful for a cichlid and work in a community of sturdy, similarly sized fish. They pair off readily, and pairs are monogamous. A pair spawns on a flat surface and turns territorial while breeding. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The blue acara is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, with a stocky blue-green body covered in iridescent flecks. It is fairly long-lived for a mid-sized cichlid, and the species is not considered threatened.

In the wild

Blue acaras live in slow streams, pools and rivers across Trinidad, Tobago and northern Venezuela. They are often found over sand and leaf litter, with wood and rock for cover. The water ranges from soft and acidic to harder and neutral, which is part of why they adapt so easily.

Other named lines

The blue lines sold under this species are line-bred aquarium forms, not separate fish.

Neon blue
electric blue with a darker mask and back

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Every variety on this page wants the same water, so one set of picks fits them all. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a blue acara need?

A blue acara needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a blue acara need?

A blue acara is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a blue acara eat?

A blue acara eats quality pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms. Add the odd bit of vegetable matter as well.

How big does a blue acara get?

An adult blue acara reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

How does a blue acara breed?

Blue acaras pair off readily and stay in monogamous pairs. A pair spawns on a flat surface and turns territorial while breeding, and breeding them is of medium difficulty.

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