Electric Blue Acara (Andinoacara pulcher)

Electric Blue Acara 

Electric Blue Acaras are one of the best “centerpiece” cichlids in the hobby for people who want bold color without the nonstop aggression. With their metallic electric-blue scales, intelligent behavior, and curious personality, they’re a standout fish in planted and community-style setups—especially in larger aquariums with space to roam. 

At Legacy Line Aquatics, these fish are bred and raised in-house by me in a small-scale, care-first setup. I do not source from mass-production fish farms. My focus is on raising healthy fish with clean water, proper nutrition, and attentive day-to-day care, so you receive fish I’d be confident keeping in my own fish room. 

Why Hobbyists Love Electric Blue Acaras 

• Incredible electric-blue coloration that pops under aquarium lighting
• Great “centerpiece” cichlid with personality but usually manageable temperament
• Hardy and adaptable compared to many other cichlids
• Does well in planted tanks when given space and structure
• Fascinating pair bonding and breeding behavior 

Temperament & Behavior 

Electric Blue Acaras are generally semi-peaceful cichlids. They’re far less aggressive than many common cichlids, but they can become territorial—especially as they mature or when spawning. In most setups they’re confident, interactive fish that learn feeding routines and often come right to the glass. 

They do best in tanks with: 

• Plenty of visual breaks (plants, driftwood, rockwork)
• Open swimming space
• Gentle to moderate flow
• Sand or smooth substrate (preferred)
• Stable water quality and consistent temperature 

Tank Size (Recommended)

• Single fish: 40 gallon breeder minimum (55+ preferred)
• Pair (long term): 55 gallon minimum (75+ strongly recommended)
• Group/6 juveniles growing out: 75 gallon+ recommended to reduce aggression   and crowding 

Water Temperature 

• Ideal range: 76–80°F
• Many hobbyists keep them around 77–79°F
• A stable temperature is more important than chasing an exact number 

Tank Mates (Good Choices) 

Best tank mates are peaceful to semi-peaceful fish that are large enough not to be bullied and not aggressive enough to constantly stress the Acaras.

Good tank mates may include:

• Larger tetras (rummy nose, bleeding heart, Congo tetras in larger tanks)
• Peaceful rainbowfish (in appropriately sized tanks)
• Corydoras (Sterbai are a great warm-water option)
• Bristlenose plecos and other peaceful plecos
• Angelfish (in larger, calm community setups with space) 

Avoid:

• Highly aggressive cichlids (Convicts, Jack Dempsey, etc.)
• Fin-nippers that stress them (some barbs, overly nippy tetras)
• Very small fish that could be eaten as they grow
• Overcrowded tanks with multiple territorial species fighting for the same space 

Feeding 

Electric Blue Acaras thrive on variety. A consistent rotation of high-quality foods helps keep color strong, growth steady, and overall health excellent. 

Recommended foods:

• High-quality sinking pellets (cichlid pellets / community pellets)
• Frozen foods (brine shrimp, mysis, bloodworms as treats)
• Live foods (optional, excellent for conditioning)
• Occasional quality flakes (as a supplement, not the main diet) 

What You’re Getting from Legacy Line Aquatics 

When you purchase from me, you’re getting fish that were bred and raised in-house, not mass-imported and flipped. I take a small-scale approach so I can focus on:

• Fish health
• Clean systems
• Proper feeding, mixture of high quality sinking foods/pellets, live baby brine     shrimp, frozen foods, and other quality foods
• Parasite free 

That matters—especially with cichlids. 

Shipping & Live Arrival 

Live fish are shipped Monday–Wednesday (weather permitting) to reduce transit risk. Please review our How Shipping Works page and DOA policy before ordering.