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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Electric blue acara
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Photo by Igor Balashov, CC BY · source · credits

Variations

2 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Electric blue acara

Andinoacara pulcher · Blue acara, Eba

Fairly peaceful for its size.

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15 cmBody length, without tail ✓
22–28 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–8pH ✓
108 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Electric blue acara eats animals up to about 3 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Electric blue acara eats animals up to about 3 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Electric blue acara eats animals up to about 3 cm. Ember tetra only grows to 2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 27–28 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

412 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–25 dGH
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ✓Middle
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–4 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Fairly peaceful for its size.

Food

Pellets, frozen foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Mature males develop slightly pointed dorsal and anal fins; females look more rounded.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-layer (substrate spawner) · Moderate

Open spawner: the pair cleans a flat rock and lays eggs on it; both parents guard the eggs and fry, for about two weeks.

Pairing

Buy a group of 6 and let pairs form.

Setup

A 40 gallon (150 L) tank with flat stones and caves, 25-27 C.

What starts it

Warm water, clean tank and good food. Pairs clean a flat rock.

Eggs

Up to about 200 eggs; hatch in about 2-3 days (FishBase: 2-5 days).

Raising the fry

Feed baby brine shrimp, then crushed flake. Parents guard fry.

Common mistakes
  • Tank too small
  • Poor water quality
  • Aggressive tank mates
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionNorthern South America – Trinidad, Venezuela & Colombia (electric blue form is captive-bred)
Rivers and lakesCoastal rivers of Venezuela and Trinidad
HabitatSlow streams and ponds
Native rangeAbout 600 km across
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The story of the electric blue acara

The electric blue acara is a bright blue aquarium strain of the blue acara, Andinoacara pulcher, a fish from Trinidad and Venezuela first described by Theodore Gill in 1858. It is peaceful for a cichlid of its size and a long-standing beginner's cichlid.

Theodore Gill described the blue acara in 1858 from Trinidad. The all-blue 'electric blue acara' was developed by breeders in captivity. It is calmer than many cichlids of its size.

First described by Theodore Gill in 1858.

  • The electric blue colour is a captive-bred form.
  • It is relatively peaceful for a cichlid.
  • Both parents guard eggs and fry.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources