Blue acara
Andinoacara pulcher
The classic acara with a blue sheen: calm for a 6-inch cichlid, but a keen digger that will swallow any fish that fits in its mouth.
Key facts
- Body length
- 5.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 34 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Cichlid pellets, frozen bloodworm, mysis and krill
- Origin
- Northern South America
- Hardier than67%
- Bigger than73%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Blue acara tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Clown loachGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- DiscusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Pearl gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Rosy barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Siamese algae eaterGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SwordtailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaBlue acara can eat young or small Betta; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 9300 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Bronze coryBlue acara can eat young or small Bronze cory; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 10350 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Convict cichlidTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 6300 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- DemasoniBlue acara can eat young or small Demasoni; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Neon tetraBlue acara can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraBlue acara can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyBlue acara can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasBlue acara can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusBlue acara can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpBlue acara can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for blue acaras: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 15 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 101.25 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 18.36 BU
- Min. water
- 108 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 30 cm per pair
- Group
- 1+ (best 2)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- deep bodied, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Andinoacara pulcher
Care notes
Blue acaras are South American cichlids that reach about 6 inches. They live in pairs, are fairly relaxed outside spawning and spend a lot of time moving sand around.
A pair needs a 4-foot tank, roughly 29 gallons or more. Rooted plants get dug up, so anubias and ferns on wood work better, and tank mates should be too large to swallow.
Questions
What size tank does a blue acara need?
At least 34 gallons (108 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 5.9 inches without fins.
How many blue acaras should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do blue acaras need?
72–82 °F, pH 6.5–8 and 5–25 dGH. Blue acaras come from Northern South America.
How long do blue acaras live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with blue acaras?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Blood parrot cichlid, Bristlenose pleco, Clown loach and Common pleco. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.