Variety of Blue acara

Electric blue acara

Andinoacara pulcher

The named variety of Andinoacara pulcher · See the species →

FreshwaterFish

Electric blue acara (Andinoacara pulcher)

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

Overview

The electric blue acara is the same species as a plain blue acara, with solid metallic blue laid over the body. It is a mostly peaceful cichlid for the middle of a community tank and suits a keeper past the beginner stage.

Did you know

A plain blue acara from an electric blue line can throw blue fry a generation later. The trait hides in normal looking fish, and nobody can pick out the carriers by eye, shops included.

Caring for the electric blue acara

An electric blue acara needs at least 42 gal (160 L), and a pair with tank mates needs more. Give it open swimming space, some flat stones for spawning and a few hiding spots. It digs, so anchor plants well.

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

Electric blue acaras are mostly peaceful for a cichlid. They do well in a community of sturdy fish of a similar size, though they turn territorial when breeding.

Pairs are monogamous and spawn on a flat surface, and both parents tend the eggs and fry. Blue to blue pairs give all blue fry, while a blue crossed to a standard acara gives normal looking carriers. Keepers report weaker, slower developing fry from blue to blue pairs, the usual argument for outcrossing every few generations. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The electric blue color behaves as a recessive trait in breeding reports, though no gene has been named for it. Breeders report slower development and slower growth, so shop fish tend to run small for their age. Color depth varies between suppliers, and the electric blue usually costs more than the plain fish.

In the wild

The electric blue acara is a line with a disputed origin, and no fish like it lives in the wild. It reached the trade through Asian fish farms, and nobody there has published how it was produced, so hobby accounts disagree. The usual story is a cross with the electric blue ram followed by line breeding. That story is unproven and widely doubted, because the two fish sit in different branches of the cichlid family. Sellers hedge by listing the fish as Andinoacara pulcher hybrid.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The electric blue acara is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Is an electric blue acara a different species from the blue acara?

No. An electric blue acara is a variety of the blue acara, Andinoacara pulcher, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.

What size tank does an electric blue acara need?

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

What does an electric blue acara eat?

An electric blue acara eats quality pellets and frozen foods such as bloodworms. Give it the odd bit of vegetable matter too.

How big does an electric blue acara get?

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

How does an electric blue acara breed?

Electric blue acaras form monogamous pairs that spawn on a flat surface, and both parents tend the eggs and fry. Blue to blue pairs give all blue fry, but keepers report weaker, slower developing fry from them. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.