Electric Blue Acara Cichlid Andinoacara Pulcher 5cm

Overview

The Electric Blue Acara is a selectively bred colour form of the Blue Acara, glowing metallic turquoise-blue over the whole body with orange-edged fins. The wild species comes from Trinidad, Tobago and Venezuela. It suits keepers wanting a relatively peaceful, easily bred medium cichlid for a larger community of robust fish.

• Adult Size: Around 15 cm (6 in); males slightly larger
• Lifespan: 8–10 years

Origin

• Native to: Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela; bred colour form
• Habitat: Murky still waters to clear flowing streams and rivers

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous, leaning carnivorous
• Preferred Foods: Cichlid pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, chopped prawn, earthworms, granules
• Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; mix dried and frozen foods

Tank Mates

• Best with: Deeper-bodied characins, Severums, Firemouths in large tanks, plecs
• Avoid: Small fish, delicate Corydoras, aggressive large cichlids

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Peaceful for a cichlid
• Territoriality: Territorial only when pairs are spawning

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
• Challenges: Digging uproots plants; needs stable, low-nitrate water

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, adaptable, neutral to hard
• Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)
• pH: 6.5–8.0
• Hardness: 5–25 dGH
• Flow: Slow to moderate
• Tank Size: Minimum 200 litres; 120 cm long for a pair

Final Notes

Expect steady growth and a pair that will breed readily, laying up to 200 eggs on a flat stone and guarding fry for around two weeks. Males develop pointed dorsal and anal fins; females are rounder. They dig enthusiastically, so use sand and attach Anubias or Java Fern to wood rather than rooted plants. Efficient filtration handles their waste, and their easy nature makes them one of the most rewarding cichlids.