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
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

The electric blue is the same species as a plain blue acara with solid metallic blue laid over the body. Breeders report slower development and slower growth, so shop fish tend to run small for their age. Color depth varies between suppliers, and it usually costs more than the plain fish.

In the wild

The origin of this line is disputed, and no fish like it lives in the wild. It reached the trade through Asian fish farms, and nobody on that end has published how it was produced, which is why hobby accounts disagree. The usual story is a cross with the electric blue ram followed by line breeding, but it 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.

Good to know

Breeding reports have the blue behaving as a recessive trait. Blue to blue gives all blue fry, while blue crossed to a standard acara gives normal looking carriers. Keepers also report weaker, slower developing fry from blue to blue pairs, the usual argument for outcrossing every few generations. No gene has been named for the color.

Did you know

Because the trait hides in normal looking fish, a plain blue acara out of an electric blue line can throw blue fry a generation later. Nobody can pick the carriers out by eye, shops included.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

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