Electric blue acara

Identity and search names

This profile applies to Andinoacara sp. “Electric Blue” (domestic line). Confirm trade identity and preserve breeder, supplier or locality records where relevant.

Environment and housing

Structured freshwater aquarium with sand or smooth gravel, wood or rock refuge and open central swimming space

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore; quality cichlid pellets, aquatic invertebrates and some plant material

Feeding routine: Offer measured varied meals once or twice daily and prevent obesity

Breeding and reproduction

Open-substrate spawner; a pair cleans a surface and guards eggs and mobile fry

Parental care: Biparental guarding of eggs and fry

System demands

Filtration: Use mature biological filtration sized for the adult stock and feeding load, with guarded intakes and a flow pattern the species can use without continual effort.

Aeration: Maintain strong gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen, especially overnight, during warm weather, medication, crowding or any interruption to filtration.

Maintenance: Test ammonia and nitrite after changes or abnormal behaviour; remove waste from the occupied zone and perform regular water changes matched to temperature and mineral chemistry.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope

This profile applies to Andinoacara sp. “Electric Blue” (domestic line). Confirm trade identity and preserve breeder, supplier or locality records where relevant.

Adult size and space

Usually 12–15 cm total length. At least 200 L for one compatible adult pair, with additional space for tankmates. Plan around adult dimensions, activity, group size, aggression and waste production rather than sale size.

Social structure

Single specimen or one compatible pair; breeding pairs need a separable territory

Swimming zone

Primary zone: All levels. Keep that zone usable for movement, feeding and refuge.

Feeding ecology

Omnivore; quality cichlid pellets, aquatic invertebrates and some plant material

Feeding plan

Offer measured varied meals once or twice daily and prevent obesity

Water stability

Maintain 23–28 °C; pH 6.0–8.0; hardness/minerals: Soft to moderately hard. Stable oxygenation and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.

Habitat structure

Structured freshwater aquarium with sand or smooth gravel, wood or rock refuge and open central swimming space

Compatibility plan

Robust similarly sized fish; breeding pairs may attack tankmates and need separation

Breeding plan

Open-substrate spawner; a pair cleans a surface and guards eggs and mobile fry. Parental care: Biparental guarding of eggs and fry.

Quarantine

Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated equipment. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm feeding and normal respiration, and never add transport water to the established aquarium.

Welfare checks

Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Electric blue acara is a domestic line, not a formally described species. Do not claim pure wild Andinoacara pulcher ancestry without breeder records, and reject lines showing spinal, jaw, eye or swimming deformities.

Biosecurity and release

Never release fish, fry, eggs, aquarium water, sediment, plants or live foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm current Australian import conditions and South Australian possession, trade and movement rules before acquisition or transfer.

Main risk

Electric blue acara is a domestic line, not a formally described species. Do not claim pure wild Andinoacara pulcher ancestry without breeder records, and reject lines showing spinal, jaw, eye or swimming deformities.

Adult Projected Load

Moderate, rising during pair formation and brood defence because the domestic line still develops adult cichlid body mass, territorial behaviour and substantial feeding waste.

Filtration

Use mature mechanical and biological filtration with protected intakes and enough turnover for the adult group while preserving species-appropriate current and refuge.

Aeration

Provide strong gas exchange and backup aeration; increase oxygen support before warm weather, heavy feeding, crowding, medication or filter interruption reduces the safety margin.

Maintenance

Remove uneaten food and bottom waste, clean prefilters before flow falls, test ammonia and nitrite after changes, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes.

Overridable Warnings

Domestic-line identity, adult territory, pair aggression, provenance claims, water stability and quarantine cannot be overridden.

Welfare and risk

Maintain the stated adult space and social structure, verify feeding and intervene early when injury, exclusion, weight loss, abnormal respiration or altered behaviour appears. Electric blue acara is a domestic line, not a formally described species. Do not claim pure wild Andinoacara pulcher ancestry without breeder records, and reject lines showing spinal, jaw, eye or swimming deformities.

Sources

• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes — Andinoacara sp. “Electric Blue” (domestic line) — Accepted-name, synonym and taxonomic-placement cross-check
• Andinoacara specialist reference — Electric Blue domestic line — Domestic-line identity and inheritance context
• IUCN Red List search — Andinoacara sp. “Electric Blue” (domestic line) — Conservation-status and wild-provenance cross-check
• Australian Government — importing live ornamental fish — Australian import pathway and biosecurity requirements
• PIRSA — South Australian noxious fish list — South Australian possession, trade and release context
• Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes current search — Andinoacara sp. “Electric Blue” (domestic line) — Current accepted-name, synonym, distribution and habitat cross-check