The electric blue acara, also known by its scientific name andinoacara pulcher hybrid, is a freshwater fish which relative — the blue acara, is native to Colombia, Venezuela, and other countries in South America. The electric blue acara is a man-made variation of the regular blue acara and it is a cichlid that belongs to the Cichlidae family. Just like with any fish, keeping them becomes so much easier if you have basic knowledge about the species, its needs, and its little quirks. Below is a quick introduction to the electric blue acara — a beautiful fish breed that will adjust to most aquarium waters with proper care.
The thing that really stands out about the basic facts about this fish is how long it lives, and despite not being all that big — it can live for up to 10 years! This is quite a long time for a fish, as it might even outlive a large dog! Having an electric blue acara is a big responsibility, and you should always make sure you are willing to care for it throughout its whole life, as many pet stores are reluctant to accepting fully grown fish back. This beautiful fish has an almost surreal glow to it, and the andinoacara pulcher is a natural show-stopper for anyone who wants a tank that stands out.
It is a cichlid that is hardy enough to adjust well to changes in the environment, and it can live for a total of 10 years when kept in good condition. These swimmers are not new in the aquarium world and they have been kept in tanks for many years, but it seems like they might be experiencing a recent surge in popularity. More and more hobby aquarium owners are discovering this cichlid, and it is not hard to see where the attraction lies, as the acara electric blue is visually attractive and an easy-to-care-for fish.
It is a good fish for a beginner, as it has that stunning exotic look, peaceful nature, and due to being incredibly easy to care for. The iridescent electric blue color of the electric blue acara is one of the most beautiful colors that you can find on a freshwater aquarium fish, and the andinoacara pulcher body is also covered with stripes that can be anything from orange and brown to black and grey.
The andinoacara pulcher cichlid has fins where those same colors can be found, and a dorsal fin that moves effortlessly as it swims through the water. The shape of the body is somewhat oval, and it is a stocky fish that looks plump and robust.
The spiny rays on the backs of their fins work as a protection against other more aggressive fish , and the dorsal fin is often but not always pointed. The electric blue acara is in many ways similar to other cichlids, such as the green terror cichlid , but is at the same time very unique in its color.
You are unlikely to find any other breed that is as breathtakingly beautiful and at the same time so easy to care for, which is why the andinoacara pulcher is the pride and joy of many hobby aquarists and aquarium owners. Cichlids are known for being somewhat aggressive when put in a tank with other fish, but the electric blue acara — despite being a cichlid — is an exception.
It rarely presents aggressive behaviors and will almost always get along well with other fish of various sizes, but they will occasionally act territorial if there is not enough room for the number of especially male fish in the aquarium.
This does not tend to be an issue and can generally be prevented by getting an aquarium that is the right size and enough plants and places for the fish to hide. The Acara fish is a popular fish for beginners because it is very hardy species for breeding and ease of care.
As a variation of the Blue Acara, the Electric Blue acara is incredibly vivid and brightly colored, making it an eye-catching conversation piece in any home aquarium. The electric blue acara fish is a subset of the aequidens pulcher species. The aequidens pulcher was first identified by Theodore N. The fish is indigenous to the West Indies, but it is believed to have been seen as far north as Miami until the s when it was declared extirpated , possibly due to cold temperatures during the winter.
There is some doubt in parts of the research community as to whether they made it so far north as Miami, or if it was a misidentification of another species.
Regardless, these fish thrive in areas with fresh, warm waters and are very common in Central and South America. The electric blue acara is a variant of the blue acara. The electric blue acara is likely a hybrid of the blue acara and the electric blue ram, which itself is a hybrid variant derived from the ram cichlid. The purposeful interbreeding of the blue acara and the electric blue ram led to the dominant traits of the acara being expressed larger size, spiky dorsal fin, long anal fin , and the dominant colors of the ram expressed.
The result is a bigger fish with more dazzling colors to flash, making it a mesmerizing sight in the water. The electric blue acara grows to be between inches, although some males can grow to be 7 inches in size.
The males are generally larger and more colorful than females. Their heads are more rounded than other cichlids, and they are notable for their long, flowing anal and caudal fins. The scales are iridescent and bright blue or green, so bright that they almost seem like they should glow in the dark. This can go a long way in keeping them happy and providing comfort and enrichment. This gives them a sense of security and allows them to let their guard down a bit which is great for reducing stress.
They will also spend a decent amount of time investigating and digging into the substrate. Author Note: Any floating plants such as hornwort will also do a great job of helping them feel at home. In the bodies of water Electric Blue Acara occupy, there are usually plants and vegetation floating on the surface.
Ich and skin fluke are two of the most common sicknesses that Electric Blue Acara might get. However, if you maintain great water quality and give them a healthy diet these are unlikely to occur. The food you give your fish will make a significant impact on their health obviously. Electric Blue Acara are omnivores but eat a lot of live critters in the wild. Some great options for this are bloodworms , brine shrimp, small insects, and earthworms. Electric Blue Acara nibble on a wide range of snacks in the wild, and you want to maintain this variety in your aquarium too.
They are nothing like their popular relatives such as the African cichlid , Oscar fish , Jewel cichlid , and Jack Dempsey. 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.
This temperament combined with their ease of care makes them a very easy fish to keep! If you have any rooted plants this might cause an issue because these little fish can uproot them on occasion.
Just something to keep an eye on! You have some flexibility when it comes to choosing suitable Electric Blue Acara tank mates.
Significantly smaller fish like neon tetra can also bring out some aggression in this fish too, so steer clear of them if possible. Peaceful fish that are similar in size is the safest combination although there are exceptions to the rule when it comes to size. Pretty much anything peaceful that can thrive with similar water parameters is possible.
Striping, coloration of females and body shape are all clues to whether you have an electric blue hap or electric blue Johanni. Special care for each species includes regular water changes and a strict feeding schedule. The electric blue hap Sciaenochromis fryeri is the fish most commonly sold as an electric blue cichlid. This fish is sometimes labeled as an iceberg hap or hap ahli. The male electric blue hap sports intense blue coloring broken up by nine to 12 vertical bars on a stocky, elongated body.
Females are silver or light blue and are smaller in size than the 6-inch males. Both males and females have orange, red or yellow markings on the anal fin.
In the wild, the electric blue hap lives in the open waters of Lake Malawi where rocks meet sand. The fish enjoys having caves to hide in and rock crevices to forage in. Use sand or coral mix as substrate to help maintain a high pH at 7. The electric blue's aquarium should be at least 4 feet long and at least 55 gallons.
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