In the animal world, few species have blue coloring, and even less so for those that could be described as ‘electric blue.’ These tend to occur in the avian and aquatic species.
It’s no surprise then that the appeal of having an electric blue fish, vibrantly colored as such, will have a wide and enduring audience in the fish-keeping hobby.
The Electric Blue Acara (Andinoacara pulcher) hybrid differs from the Blue Acara found naturally in the wild who are larger, more aggressive, and a duller shade of blue.
The hypothesis is that the Electric Blue is a hybrid of the Blue Acara and the German (Electric) Blue Ram. Both being Cichlids, this is a realistic theory that fits the bill nicely.
Found in the South and Central American slow-moving freshwater rivers and lakes like most Cichlids, these guys are peaceful and great starter Cichlids that will get you on your way to wanting more!
Electric Blue Acara Behavior
Despite the reputation Cichlids have, the Electric Blues make for a wonderful aberration behaviourally.
Peaceful, easygoing fish, these guys are natural springboards for beginners to introduce themselves to the colorful and sometimes wild world of Cichlid fish keeping.
They are extremely well-liked for their mellow nature and affable attitude towards others in the tank which cannot be said for most of their relatives.
It’s rare that they would cause any kind of ruckus in the tank, so this makes them super easy to manage and look after.
Being a Cichlid, they love to dig around at the bottom of tanks and have a very exploratory nature. Adventurous would be another word to describe them!
You will observe them uprooting plants and plowing through the substrate provided in an effort to find morsels of food. This is one reason to take care of the type of live plantings you include in your set up as they can end up destroying plant life quite quickly.
They can be shy and hide when it suits them or dart about the tank in investigative mode. One thing you will never tire of is watching them do their thing, which is endlessly entertaining and excellent value for an easy to keep Cichlid.
Electric Blues will spend most of their time in the middle or bottom layers of the tank, checking out all the nooks and crannies you can proffer. It would be rare to spot them anywhere near the surface because of how much they enjoy digging.
They are active swimmers, so they need open areas in the tank to do so, but they also enjoy navigating around plant life and any decor you provide.
Being a Cichlid, they do have some maternal instincts in terms of care for their fry and will help supply food for their newly hatched eggs when necessary. We will discuss this more when we look into breeding.
Electric Blue Acara Lifespan
Electric Blues can live for up to 8 – 10 years in captivity on average, so a fair commitment from a potential hobbyist.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Electric Blue Acara Appearance
Unsurprisingly, this fish has a name that very aptly describes its appearance.
They have all-over brilliant blue shading that has some lighter gold behind the gills and occasional spotting on the sides.
The blue can deepen to black on their heads in a gradient, and their fins may be edged in orange. Complementary coloring at its best!
They have flashy, dense scales that reflect and glow beautifully and ensure they stand out in a crowd.
At maturity, they reach a moderately sized 6 – 7 inches in length.
Their large, sail-like dorsal fin is full length with rays, and they have a rounded caudal fin that is larger than the remaining fins. Their fin rays are also a source of protection from other aggressive fish behaviors.
The blue coloring is what makes these fish a freshwater stand out and is why their appeal endures. The iridescent shading is so beautiful to look at it’s no wonder they are many hobbyists’ pride and joy taking center stage in the tank community.
Electric Blue Acara Habitat And Tank Requirements
This tropical river-dwelling fish likes conditions that would mimic what its hybrid heritage species would prefer.
Plenty of hiding spaces for safety, a decent substrate that won’t cut or scrape them as they dig around, and vegetation to feel like home.
Let’s take a look at the specifics for keeping your Electric Blue Acara looking its best.
Tank Conditions
Another Cichlid means another fish that loves to dig. Super soft and fine sand or silt will fit suit their purpose nicely.
Some excellent plants to include in your setup are ones that will mimic their natural swampy habitat.
These plant species might include Amazonian types such as Amazon Swords, Brazilian Waterweed, Java Fern, and Java Moss. Hornwort makes a great floating plant that they can’t uproot. They tend to have a lot of floating vegetation in the wild, so this would be a helpful addition to your setup.
Driftwood, flat rocks, caves all make a nice addition to your tank and will add interest for your natural explorer of a fish.
Ensure you keep some areas for open, active swimming as they do enjoy stretching their fins every so often around their regular digging.
Filtration-wise, a normal powerhead filter will suffice, but you do need some good flow for aeration as there should be a lot of plant life involved in the setup, which necessitates that.
While these fish are hardy in nature and not particularly difficult to care for, you still want to maintain parameters so that they are in optimal health and condition.
Water changes will need to be done each week with at least 50% biweekly or 25 – 50% done weekly.
Water conditions should be noted, tested regularly, and maintained as follows:
- pH of 6.0 – 7.5
- Water hardness 6 – 20 dGH
- Temperature between 68 – 82ºF (20 – 28ºC)
- Lighting can be a standard cycling type
Tank Size
The minimum tank size needed is 30 gallons for a single Electric Blue Acara. Ideally, you would be better off at a larger starting size because they grow quickly.
For each additional Blue Acara, you should add another 15 gallons.
Choosing Tank Mates For Electric Blue Acaras
Electric Blue Acaras work well amongst themselves and work well in a school of 6 or more, depending on your tank size. Keep them in even numbers, ideally in mating pairs which will keep them happy and reduce territorial behavior if they can all have their own nook.
While they happily coexist with a plethora of fish in the Amazon, Blue Acaras should not be kept alongside other aggressive fish in a tank set up.
This can result in bullying, and it just isn’t in their nature to be aggressive and retaliate. Stress can then be a huge damper on their longevity, so avoid putting them in that situation in the first place.
Avoid any species that are too large and may view them as prey, and likewise avoid other smaller species that your Electric Blue may see as a snack.
Here are some of the best species to mix in with your Electric Blue Acaras:
- Oscars
- Rainbow Fish
- Otocinclus
- Cory catfish
- Discus Fish
- Bristlenose Plecos
- Moga Cichlids
- Banded Cichlids
- Barbs
- Velvet Cichlids
- Bamboo Shrimp
- Ghost Shrimp
- Cherry Shrimp
- Rasboras
- Paradise Fish
- Rummy Nose Tetras
Some fish to keep separate would include Dwarf Cichlids and Angelfish from the same family group.
One other point to mention is that you should avoid mixing South American Cichlids with African Cichlids as they do not tend to live harmoniously together and have completely different water parameters.
Feeding Electric Blue Acaras
Cichlids, in general, are not fussy eaters, and they have a tendency to gobble anything in their path and can often overeat.
They are omnivores and need a wide variety of foods to keep them healthy.
Protein-rich is key, but not exclusively. They will need plant matter in their diet as well.
Blanched veggies of the usual suspects like spinach, zucchini, and lettuce are popular options.
Good sources of fresh or frozen protein would include earthworms, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and other small insects.
Good quality flakes and pellets will also suffice, but you should ideally mix it up and offer options. Just because Cichlids aren’t picky doesn’t mean they know what is good for them!
Remember to remove any uneaten matte to avoid water fouling by using a suction vacuum for substrates. The last thing you want is to add to your workload by letting food rot, creating a dirty tank ripe for illness and poor vitality.
Electric Blue Acara Common Health Issues
There isn’t a lot to talk about in terms of specific diseases with these fish.
They are prone to the same types of freshwater fish illnesses common to all, such as Ich or White Spot Disease as it is sometimes known, HITH and Skin Flukes.
Ich is a parasitic affliction that appears as white spots on the body and gills. It can be treated but is highly contagious, so if any of your Blue Acaras are affected, you may need to quarantine them separately.
HITH (Hole in the Head) Disease can be an issue for these fish if water quality isn’t kept up to snuff. It’s also believed that poor diet may be a factor here.
Skin Flukes are another type of parasitic disease that is hard to treat because they are very hard to diagnose and present in almost every tank. It’s usually when your community is overcrowded or stressed that these worms can become embedded in your fish and cause problems.
How To Breed Electric Blue Acaras
Breeding Electric Blue Acaras will not require much effort once you have a breeding pair.
Since they are recommended to be kept in pairs of 6 or more, chances are you will see evidence of spawning activity without even trying to breed them.
Like other Cichlids, this monogamy lends itself to regular spawning if you have a breeding pair.
Separating a breeding pair into a separate tank with help reduce aggression amongst tank mates. These fish spawn on the substrate, and you’ll need a gentler type of filtration such as a sponge filter to prevent the fry from entering the filter system.
The pair will clean the area they are preparing to spawn on and will defend their turf rigorously. When spawning is imminent, the male’s breeding tube will usually be visible within 24 hours.
The female will lay her eggs on the substrate, followed along by the male who will fertilize them, and a single spawning session can produce up to 300 eggs.
Eggs will usually hatch within 48 – 72 hours, and then in another 72 hours, you should expect to see free-swimming live fry. The parents will look after the fry for up to a week or so before they prepare to spawn again and may redirect some of their aggression towards the offspring and potentially eat them.
Conclusion
These show-stopping, brilliant, peaceful Cichlids really do deserve the accolades bestowed upon them for their ongoing popularity and vibrant coloring.
Expect to spend hours watching them duck and dive around your tank with a flourish of blue that is so unexpected in the animal kingdom.
If you can keep in mind that a rigorous tank cleaning schedule, high-quality live foods where possible, and keeping tank mates within our distinctive list, you will be rewarded for keeping this fish for years to come.
Electric Blue Acaras make an excellent introductory Cichlid that will hold your gaze and ideally live for a long time in your community without the normally associated aggression that Cichlids so often present you with.
