Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => New World => Topic started by: linuxrulesusa on April 29, 2015, 02:30:46 PM

Title: blue (electric blue) acara - tankmates? aggression?
Post by: linuxrulesusa on April 29, 2015, 02:30:46 PM

I'm considering adding an electric blue acara to my 46g bowfront.

Here's my current stocking:

http://goo.gl/5nz2gV

Thoughts?  Good idea?  Might work?  Could a pair work? 

I've not kept these before so I'm curious about their aggression level. 

Here's a pic of my tank, which has some driftwood/plants and I'd be happy to add more structure if needed.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q630/linuxrulesusa/tank%20pics%202015/2015-04-29%2011.06.02_zpsxpyaotda.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/linuxrulesusa/media/tank%20pics%202015/2015-04-29%2011.06.02_zpsxpyaotda.jpg.html)

Title: Re: blue (electric blue) acara - tankmates? aggression?
Post by: Regalblue on April 29, 2015, 03:25:24 PM

They can get fiesty at around 3" if kept in small quarters.

Title: Re: blue (electric blue) acara - tankmates? aggression?
Post by: linuxrulesusa on April 29, 2015, 06:21:08 PM

Quote from: Regalblue on April 29, 2015, 03:25:24 PM

They can get fiesty at around 3" if kept in small quarters.

I assume my tank qualifies as small quarters?  Base dimensions are between a 30 long and 40 breeder. 

Max size for a blue acara is 8"?  I've read conflicting profiles, especially about the electric blues staying smaller.

Title: Re: blue (electric blue) acara - tankmates? aggression?
Post by: Regalblue on April 29, 2015, 07:07:42 PM

Quote from: linuxrulesusa on April 29, 2015, 06:21:08 PM

Quote from: Regalblue on April 29, 2015, 03:25:24 PM

They can get fiesty at around 3" if kept in small quarters.

I assume my tank qualifies as small quarters?  Base dimensions are between a 30 long and 40 breeder. 

Max size for a blue acara is 8"?  I've read conflicting profiles, especially about the electric blues staying smaller.

You may be good for awhile. 

I'd imagine 6" .  My surviving EBA got handed to a festae shortly after killing it's tankmates.  It was 4" & I had them in a 29gal.

Title: Re: blue (electric blue) acara - tankmates? aggression?
Post by: dexternovice on April 29, 2015, 08:35:07 PM

From what I've been reading,  acaras are good as long as: they can't catch what they're housed with, are smaller than same (significantly), have plenty of sight line interruptions, and are given a territory the they can claim. Of course,  this is u st from reading and not any personal experience yet.

Title: Re: blue (electric blue) acara - tankmates? aggression?
Post by: linuxrulesusa on April 29, 2015, 09:05:41 PM

Thanks guys.  I'm leaning now instead toward a pair of rams or possibly a pair of kribs, since both would be colorful, max at 3" or less, and I've kept them before with little difficulty.

Too many cool fish and only one semi-big tank :). 

Title: Re: blue (electric blue) acara - tankmates? aggression?
Post by: dexternovice on April 29, 2015, 10:06:36 PM

Quote from: linuxrulesusa on April 29, 2015, 09:05:41 PM

Thanks guys.  I'm leaning now instead toward a pair of rams or possibly a pair of kribs, since both would be colorful, max at 3" or less, and I've kept them before with little difficulty.

Too many cool fish and only one semi-big tank :).

I love my rams. My female is ready to spawn and she and the male are putting on quite a show with their colors and behavior.