Electric blue acara care guide
Also called: EBA, Electric blue acara cichlid
The electric blue acara is a captive-bred, bright blue form of the blue acara. It's one of the calmer medium-sized cichlids, but it grows to about 6 inches (15 cm) and eats small fish. Keep one in at least 40 gallons (151 L) with soft sand to dig in.
Electric blue acaras need a tank of at least 40 gallons (151 L), and water at 23–27°C (73–81°F) with a pH of 6.5–7.5. They grow to about 15 cm (5.9 in) and are semi-aggressive.
Plan a tank with electric blue acarasSee all tank mates
Electric blue acara quick facts
| Scientific name | Andinoacara pulcher (electric blue form) |
|---|---|
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Origin | Captive-bred color form of the blue acara, which is native to Trinidad and northern Venezuela |
| Adult size | 15 cm (5.9 in) |
| Minimum tank | 40 gallons (151 L), at least 90 cm (35 in) long |
| Temperature | 23–27°C (73–81°F) |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–15 dGH |
| Group size | Alone or as a pair |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 8–10 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | No, eats or uproots plants |
- Needs sand or smooth, fine gravel to protect its barbels and belly.
Tank setup
One fish needs at least a 40-gallon (151 L) tank about 36 in (90 cm) long. A pair does better in 55 gallons (208 L) or more with a 4 ft (120 cm) footprint. Use soft sand, because acaras dig a lot. Add driftwood, smooth rocks and caves, and pick plants that grow on decor, like anubias and java fern.
How many electric blue acaras in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits electric blue acaras is a 40 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Electric blue acaras (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Up to 5 |
| 55 gallon | Up to 6 |
| 75 gallon | Up to 9 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 15 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one fish or one pair.
What you need for electric blue acaras
Sized for a 40 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits electric blue acaras. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 40 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 40 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 334 lb (151 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 150 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 77 °F (25 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 160–240 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 55 lb of aquarium sand (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 1.5 in (4 cm) deep. Soft sand protects the barbels of corydoras, loaches and other diggers. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 36 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for electric blue acaras
- Sinking pellets or wafers (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bottom feeders need food that reaches the floor.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
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Water parameters
Keep it at 23–27°C (73–81°F), pH 6.5–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water. It needs clean, stable water, so use strong biological filtration. Change 25–30% of the water every week to keep nitrate low.
Best tank mates for electric blue acaras
These popular species share electric blue acaras' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 34 good matches.
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 24–28°C (75–82°F)
Angelfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 24–29°C (75–84°F)
Tiger barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 21–27°C (70–81°F)
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Avoid keeping electric blue acaras with
- Cherry shrimp: Electric blue acara eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Electric blue acara 23–27°C (73–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Guppy: Electric blue acara can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Neon tetra: Electric blue acara can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Panda corydoras: Electric blue acara can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Zebra danio: Electric blue acara can eat zebra danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Feeding
Mostly a meat eater that also takes some plant food. A quality cichlid pellet makes a good staple. Add frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis or chopped prawn a few times a week, plus a vegetable-based flake now and then. Feed once or twice a day, only what it finishes in a couple of minutes.
Behavior
Calm and a bit shy for a cichlid, and it rarely starts fights outside of breeding. A spawning pair defends its spot, though. It will eat fish small enough to swallow, like neon tetras, and hunts dwarf shrimp. Good tankmates are peaceful fish of similar size: big tetras like Congo tetras, bristlenose plecos, angelfish and other mild cichlids. Big, aggressive cichlids will bully it.
Breeding
One of the easier cichlids to breed. A pair cleans a flat stone, and the female lays a few hundred eggs in neat rows that hatch in 2–3 days. Both parents guard the eggs and fry for about two weeks and turn protective while they do. Feed free-swimming fry baby brine shrimp or microworms.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Use sand, not sharp gravel. Acaras sift and dig through the bottom all day.
- Choose plants that grow on wood or rock, like anubias and java fern. Rooted plants tend to get dug up.
- Don't keep it with neon tetras or other tiny fish. Adults can swallow them whole.
- For a pair, raise a few juveniles together and let two pair off, then rehome the rest.
- Floating plants dim the light and help this slightly shy cichlid feel safe.
Frequently asked questions
Are electric blue acaras aggressive?
Not very. They are usually rated semi-aggressive but are one of the calmer medium-sized cichlids, and they mostly leave similar-sized fish alone. They do get protective when breeding, and they eat fish small enough to swallow.
How big do electric blue acaras get?
Most reach about 5–6 inches (13–15 cm) in a home aquarium. Males are usually longer than females, with a longer, more pointed dorsal fin.
Can electric blue acaras live with community fish?
Yes, if the tankmates are too big to eat. Big tetras, plecos, angelfish and other mild cichlids work well. Skip nano fish and dwarf shrimp.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.