Breeding the electric blue acara
Open spawner: the pair cleans a flat rock and lays eggs on it; both parents guard the eggs and fry, for about two weeks.
Step by step
Buy a group of 6 and let pairs form.
A 40 gallon (150 L) tank with flat stones and caves, 25-27 C.
Warm water, clean tank and good food. Pairs clean a flat rock.
Up to about 200 eggs; hatch in about 2-3 days (FishBase: 2-5 days).
Feed baby brine shrimp, then crushed flake. Parents guard fry.
- Tank too small
- Poor water quality
- Aggressive tank mates
Male or female
Mature males develop slightly pointed dorsal and anal fins; females look more rounded.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for open substrate spawners
- 21 days beforeLet a pair form
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
- Day 0Spawning
The pair cleans the stone and lays rows of eggs. Both guard them.
- Day 3Eggs hatch
Wrigglers hatch in 2–4 days and are moved to pits by the parents.
- Day 7Free swimming
Feed baby brine shrimp several times a day. Parents often herd the fry.
- Day 42Grow-out
Move fry to a grow-out tank before the parents spawn again.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.