It rarely presents aggressive behaviors and will almost always get along well with other fish of various sizes. Contrary to popular belief, fish can grow irritated in the same way as humans do. It can cause the fish to acquire a potentially lethal secondary infection in addition to skin damage. The electric blue acara is a hybrid fish. Remember, blue acaras can be found in a variety of environmental conditions, which means that these freshwater fish can also adapt to most aquarium conditions. Tankarium is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you love fish-keeping, you're probably just as fascinated by the natural world as we are, so today we're going to dive into the weird and wonderful world of fish with big eyes! Privacy Policy. These fish originate from South and Central America and can be found in slow-moving waters just like a lot of their relatives in the cichlid family. Lower-grade acaras might even have patches of blue missing, revealing sections of black and grey. The electric blue acara, . Theres no point in trying to save a few dollars by purchasing cheap, poor quality food, as that wont be good for your fishes health in the long-term. Then when we finally got the chance to see one in person it was mind-blowing. Angelfish are schooling fishes that get along well with electric blue acara. You should also feed flaked foods and cichlid pellets. Discus is a social fish that you should keep in schools, and they rarely bother the other fish in the tank. However, they can be kept in a variety of tank setups and will accommodate the demeanors of other fish. The Electric Blue Acara does like to burrow, and for that reason, its important that you provide your fish with a soft, sandy substrate, rather than hard gravel that could injure the fish. Expect your tank to be around 140lbs when empty and 850lbs when filled. They can both display a yellow or orange margin on the top of the dorsal fin. They are a schooling fish, which means you need to purchase a good handful for your aquarium. Temperature around 75-76F is also optimal. Blue Acara enjoy caves and areas of dense planting where they can hide if they feel stressed. The Electric Blue Acara is a freshwater fish that is becoming more and more popular in the aquarist community. Mark has been featured in two books about aquarium keeping both best sellers on Amazon. Simply dont exceed two meals a day and give them an amount that they can eat in a couple of minutes. 6. The bristlenose pleco is a smaller variant of the common pleco. The pair will fiercely protect their fry for up to two weeks, and will be ready to breed again shortly after this time period. Almost all cichlids love to burrow in the sand. The electric blue jack dempsey is characterized by its iridescent blue coloration and black spots on its body. The electric blue acara is not usually aggressive or territorial. Electric blue acaras are usually kept in pairs. This is usually pretty easy to notice so youll have a heads up that things are about to happen. 1 Severum. Cookie Notice Once this is over the parents will watch over their eggs while they grow. Electric Blue Acara Care. However, as a digger, Acaras do tend to uproot plants, so I suggest using potted plants that are not easily dislodged. 7 Large Bodied Tetra. Free shipping for many products! 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). The parent electric blues will be ready to mate again in a matter of weeks. To get a breeding pair, its recommended to purchase a small group of juveniles and allow them to pair off on their own. Temperature and water quality are far more important to angels than the electric blue acara. To get the best breeding pair possible, many hobbyists purchase a small group of about 5 fish. I hope you enjoyed our Electric Blue Acara care guide and found it helpful. Other signs and symptoms include a loss of appetite and respiratory difficulties. These gorgeous, large cichlids are found in the South and Central areas of South America, Columbia, Trinidad, and Venezuela. If you keep them in small-sized groups, they can become shy. Electric blue acara is a great fish for beginners, as it requires a tank of average size, quite average care, and nothing out of the ordinary. Electric blues will likely claim a piece of this real estate for themselves and guard it against other tank mates, though usually in a passive manner. Although the fry is guarded by the male or female fish, during the first two weeks of their lives, the youngsters will stay close to their mother. They are social fish that are not prone to hiding, but the digging is especially intense when the electric blue acara is getting ready to breed. Electric Blue Acara are a beautiful and easy to care for freshwater fish. A: A 75 gallon tank can comfortably accommodate 6-9 Electric Blue Acaras, following the rule of 1 fish . Infected fish will develop white spots on their bodies, which they will try to scrape off with their claws on any hard surfaces in the tank. If you have a photo I can identify it I was obsessed with South Americans cichlids for years. They are regarded as a beginner cichlid species, forgiving imperfections and wavering water parameters. So, every week you must carry out partial water changes to remove excess ammonia and nitrites and to keep nitrate levels down. In terms of their general behavior, youll definitely enjoy watching the Electric Blue Acara. Ideal Tank Mates Generally, keep your Acara Cichlids in groups of at least six or eight fish, while keeping the male to female ratio at 1:3. . Use antibiotics such as metronidazole, octozin, and others as the best treatment. This means youll need to feed them enough protein-rich food to satisfy their nutritional requirements. This will prevent anyone from potentially getting picked on. These fish are compatible with other fish as tank mates, and it is smart to place them with others of the same breed or for their tank mates to be fish of a similar size and with friendly personalities. . This means they do well with a wide variety of tank mates (more on that in the section below) and will rarely cause any disturbances in your aquarium. Once they have started, they are likely to continue as long as water quality and other tank conditions are met. Oscars get along well with electric blue acaras in general, and they can live peacefully together if the tank is large enough. We may earn a small commission through products purchased using links on this page. I don't think I . Fortunately, Electric Blue Acara are pretty hardy fish. Some fish will become anxious and begin to hide. The electric blue acara is a hardy fish that generally adapts to most aquarium water conditions. Almost any event that causes changes in habitat or a disturbance in routine and behavior can produce stress. Electric blue acara is low-maintenance. The julii and sterbai are both typical gentle bumbling Cory's the sterbai being the bigger of the two. If possible, you must also eliminate the source of the issue. Aquarium Store Depot earns a commission if you make a purchase. They are more likely to have deformities than the normal Blue Acara and are of a more peaceful temperament. A cichlid like this has a very simple breeding process, and breeding is quick and simple, but they do need a proper breeding environment. Due to its maximum size and its long, flowing fins, it is best to maintain a minimum 30-gallon tank for your acara, accompanied by a soft, sandy substrate. The electric blue jack dempsey is a freshwater fish that is native to Central America. You wont be disappointed. Easily clean your aquarium by connecting this to your sink! 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. Once big enough, the baby electric blue acaras can be moved to the display aquarium or given to another hobbyist. Learn how your comment data is processed. Natural objects like driftwood, peat moss, and coral sand can help you balance your pH, but its tough to say how much theyll help. Their caudal fin is symmetrical and about as tall from top to bottom as their body. Electric Blue Acaras are monogamous and are moderately easy to breed in the home tank. You can find Electric Blue Acaras at some good local fish stores, depending on where you live. On average, these fish live to be anywhere from 7 to 10 years old. You might also want to include some peaceful bottom dwellers, such as plecos or Corydoras catfish. Apr 12, 2022. If you want to keep these two fish together, keep an eye on their behavior in the tank so you can see any fighting right away. They mainly stay towards the bottom of the tank but will venture into the upper middle portions at times. They have a striking electric blue color that stands out no matter what other fish you keep in your tank, and it is one of the most stunning cichlids which is also surprisingly easy to keep. Buy a group of 8 young fish and grow them up. The electric blue acara is not a naturally occurring fish. Scouts honor . Like all fish there are some of the usual suspects youll want to look out for. The top edge of their dorsal fin has a vibrant yellow/orange line that really stands out. They are larger fish that need to be fed several times throughout the day. Malawi bloat is a sickness that affects cichlids in Malawi. And, remember to share the article with your fishkeeping friends if you loved it! These cichlids grow up to 4 inches in nature, but they've been known to grow larger in captivity. These Dwarf rainbows are prefect for smaller aquariums. Sometimes you might see them hiding out and being shy, and other times theyll be darting around exploring and digging through the substrate. Electric Yellow Lab, Yellow Tail Acei, Sulfur Head Peacock, Blue Orchid Peacock, and Blue Orchid Peacock living in Lake Malawi are . Failure to do so will result in catastrophic health consequences. 5. Nitrates should be below 20 parts per million (ppm) without harming your fish. If aquarium wood, coral sand, or something else caused the pH change, remove it to avoid the problem from recurring. One other fact about Balloon Molly fish is they are truly man-made and a result of selective breeding to have scoliosis. I don't need to stuff as many fish as possible into this tank, I would just like a balanced, fairly peaceful community tank to enjoy for the long term. The care you put into choosing tank mates determines your fishs comfortability. Because of this, youll want to make sure the substrate is nice and soft so they dont cut or scrape themselves. If planning on keeping a pair of electric blue acaras in a community tank with other species, then at least 55 gallons is recommended with a larger tank size being much more preferred. Do not keep violent fish with electric blue acaras since they may be attacked and injured. The first tank has two huge fancy goldfish who are almost ten years old and still looking as good as ever. Some even create breeding pits where they spawn, including the electric blue acara. He has kept freshwater tanks, ponds, and reef tanks for over 25 years. This can go a long way in keeping them happy and providing comfort and enrichment. So the total stocking would be 2 EBA's, 2 Regular Blue Acara and one L200. Thus, the faster you can improve the fishs position, the better. Here are some great Electric Blue Acara tank mates that we recommend: This is just a small example of the potential tank mates you can pair with this fish, but its a good starting point. The female will spawn the eggs and the male will fertilize them (usually shortly after). While electric blue acaras arent schooling fish, they definitely prefer to be in groups with their own kind. They thrive in fast-moving currents, swimming for most of the day and resting among plants and other decorations at night. Care level: Easy. Still, these fish are susceptible to freshwater ich and skin flukes. However, Blue Acaras are also sometimes found in standing water, where they feed on insects, crustaceans, worms, and some plant matter. These cichlids love to swim and explore, and it wont be happy unless it can do so freely. This is quite common but its worth being aware of. I also recommend that you buy the best quality food that you can find for your fish. Keep in mind that these are active fish and require room to thrive - a bigger tank is always better. . Since theyre peaceful yet curious they will display a mix of behaviors while in your tank. Therefore, you shouldnt be concerned about putting dangerous plants in the tank. Is this because of aggression? On the flip side, I dont recommend very large or aggressive species either, as they may harass and stress the Acaras. Still, they might chase off other fish if they feel it is on their territory or during the breeding season. You can also treat your fish with vegetables like broccoli on special occasions. Stress is extremely harmful to aquarium fish and is known to weaken the animals immune system. They are iridescent, too, and come in a variety of colors. While the electric blue acara is one of the most adaptable cichlid tank mates, theyre not right for every home aquarium setup. When the electric blue acara is between 8 and 10 months, it is considered mature enough to breed, and they will usually find their ideal pair in the tank on their own. Green Country AquariumsSynodontis Lucipinnis Congo Tetras Silver Tip Tetras Bumblebee Catfish Green Tiger BarbsElectric Blue Acara Turkana Jewel Cichlid When you see these fish swimming it looks like shiny blue neon! These fish prefer sandy substrate and warmer water between 75F and 80F. Poor food, poor water quality, and the bacteria clostridium difficile have all been key contributors. They need a minimum of a 20-gallon tank with the usual 10 to 15 gallons extra capacity per fish. You will require a tank with a nominal capacity of 60 gallons if you want to keep a pair of electric blue acara and a bristlenose pleco. On the side of their bodies, youll typically see a bit of faded yellow more toward the front half. Balloon Molly fish is a unique freshwater fish that are bred extremely short and round. Live plants will need trimming to prevent overgrowth and remove dead leaves and damaged stems. If the light fixture is too intense, then floating plants and other aquarium decorations can be used to diffuse bright areas. If left in the wild, a blue acara can live twice as long as that! Fish can quickly succumb to shock. The top 10 tank mates for Electric Blue Acara. Clown Loaches are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium scene. 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. pH shock is rather easy to avoid; routine maintenance (water changes) is essential, like double-checking the water quality before putting them in your tank. Electric blue acaras appreciate having tank mates, which can help them feel less stressed, remaining healthy and happy. Theyre found in tanks, The Dojo Loach (aka Weather Loach or Pond Loach) is one of our all-time favorite freshwater species. But there's no one rule set in stone. It usually takes just a few days after fertilization for them to hatch!