Have you ever admired the mesmerizing beauty of an electric blue acara tank mates and wondered what other colorful fish might share its tank? Ensuring compatibility between tank mates is paramount to maintaining a harmonious and healthy aquarium. In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 wonderful tank mates of the Blue Acara, along with tips for creating a lush aquatic environment that both you and your fish will love.
What is a blue acara tank?
Electric Blue Acaras , native to South America and part of the tilapia family, are beautiful tropical fish admired by aquarium keepers worldwide 1 . When fully grown, these beautiful blue acaras will turn heads in any aquarium if their specific needs in terms of water parameters and tank mates are met. To ensure your electric blue stays happy in its new home, it is important that you become familiar with all aspects of this wonderful fish!
Characteristics of Blue acara
Blue Acaras are considered ideal tilapia species for community tanks and for aggressive tanks with suitable tank mates. These freshwater fish are typically 4-8 inches long and require a diet of meat combined with protein such as bloodworms, brine shrimp or pellets. They can become suitable residents of a community tank if their tank mates are compatible with them. Because of their smaller size, there are more options for them than other tilapia species.
When it comes to reproduction, female Blue Acara fish usually lay 150-200 eggs, which take 2-3 days before hatching into fry. This is when extra attention should be paid to monitoring interactions between tankmates as territorial behavior can occur during this time while they protect their young Electric Blues.
When choosing tank mates, it is important to choose appropriately sized specimens but also take temperament into account when choosing potential tank mates for your Blue Acara aquarium to ensure everyone is safe and sound. happy! Feeding is not a problem with tank mates. Just make sure that the tank mates are large enough that they can consume larger quality live or frozen foods so that everyone is well fed.
7 best blue acara tank mates – What you need to know
One of the best parts of a blue acara tank mates is the variety of colorful fish you can keep in it. Although the absolute best tank mate for a Blue Acara is another Blue Acara, there are still plenty of options if you want to add more color to your aquarium.
As we learned above, it is important to take into account both your Blue Acara’s physical and social needs when introducing a new fish to your aquarium. Now that we understand the Blue Acara a little better, let’s find out which species makes the best tank mates for this beautiful fish.blue acara tank mates
Oscar fish
Scientific name: Astronotus ocellatus
Adult size: 14”
Compatible with: Other Oscar fish, other medium to large emperor fish species
Water temperature: 72.0 to 77.0° F
Minimum tank size: 100 gallons
Care level: Beginner
Origin: South America
Astronotus ocellatus, the Oscar fish, is one of the most classic aquarium fish and makes a great tank mate for the blue Acara. Another member of the Cichlidae family, this fish has beautiful red and black patterns that have earned it the colloquial names Tiger Oscar, Velvet Cichlid, and Marble Cichlid.
While Oscars can make great tankmates, it is important to note that this Cichlid fish is larger and tends to eat smaller species if not carefully monitored.
That being said, if given enough space, Oscar fish can be great community members in your aquarium and can live for over 10 years! Oscar fish are even capable of forming bonds with humans they see outside the tank.
Pleco fish
Scientific name: Hypostomus plecostomus
Adult size: Usually 12” to 15” but can grow up to 24” long
Compatible with: Most tank mates including Cichlids
Water temperature: 66.0 to 79.0° F
Minimum tank size: 55 gallons
Care level: Beginner
Origin: Northern South America
Hypostomus plecostomus, Pleco for short, is often called a ‘sucker fish’ because it eats algae growing in tanks. Plecos are one of the most popular aquarium fish for this reason in addition to their hardiness. They can live 10 to 15 years in captivity.
They are gentle, nocturnal fish and will get along with most other tank mates. They are a popular choice because they help keep the tank clean by eating algae and other debris. It is important to note that they can eventually grow too large to fit in a tank with other fish and will eventually need a separate tank if kept past adolescence.
Emerald green cory fish
Scientific name: Corydoras splendens
Adult size: 2 ¾” to 3 ½”
Compatible with: Dwarf Emperors, Tetras, Danios and Rasboras
Water temperature: 68.0 to 82.0° F
Minimum tank size: 30 gallons
Care level: Beginner
Origin: South America
Corydoras splendens, aka Emerald Green Cory, is a member of the catfish family and another great tankmate for your Blue Acara. These little fish come in interesting green and pink colors that complement the bright blue color of the Blue Acara. They are very hardy fish and can live up to 13 years in the right conditions.
The Turquoise Cory is a gentle fish that helps keep the water clean by cleaning up leftover food from other fish. An important note about these fish is that they like to live in schools, so it is best to keep a small group of these fish in your aquarium instead of keeping a single fish.
Lemon tetra fish
Scientific name: Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
Adult size: 2”
Compatible with: Other gentle fish species
Water temperature: 72.0 to 82.0° F
Minimum tank size: 15 gallons
Care level: Beginner
Origin: South America
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis, also known as the Lemon Tetra, is another great choice for Blue Acara tank mates. These fish thrive in schools, so it is important to keep them in a group of 6 or more other Lemon Tetra species. Although these fish are mostly transparent, they have prominent lemon-yellow spots on their fins, giving them their name.
The Lemon Tetra will live 4 to 8 years in the tank and is a gentle and friendly fish. They have a good temperament for the more gentle blue Acara fish but can be fearful and shy away from more aggressive fish, so this is something to keep in mind when choosing other tank mates.
Congo Tetra fish
Scientific name: Phenacogrammus interruptus
Adult size: 3.4”
Compatible with: Other Tetras, Dwarf Emperors, Rainbows, Loricariids, Synodontis and Corydoras
Water temperature: 73.0 to 82.0° F
Minimum tank size: 40 gallons
Care level: Medium
Origin: Africa
Phenacogrammus interruptus, also known as the Congo Tetra, is another great blue acara tank mates choice for your Blue Acara aquarium. They have beautiful glowing rainbow scales on their bodies and feathery fins and tails. Congo Tetra typically live about 3 to 5 years in captivity.
These tetras are omnivorous and primarily eat insects in the wild, but can be fed pellets in your aquarium. They thrive in groups of six or more and will make friendly, peaceful additions to your aquarium. Their beautiful colors will shine even brighter when in a group!
Rasbora Harlequin fish
Scientific name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Adult size: 2”
Compatible with: Dwarf perch, tilapia, guppies, discus, molly fish, swordtails, gobies and gentle catfish
Water temperature: 73.0 to 82.0° F
Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
Care level: Medium
Origin: Southeast Asia
Trigonostigma heteromorpha, also known as Harlequin Rasbora, is a fish with eye-catching colors, ranging from orange to red to pink depending on where it is caught. Their warm color will be a great complement to the cool blue of Blue Acara. Harlequin Rasbora are very active and love to show off their personalities.
These fish can live for about 5 to 6 years in optimal conditions and have a gentle nature. They are omnivorous, eating mainly insects and prefer to live in groups of 10 or more. They can become nervous around larger fish, so it is not recommended to keep them with fish larger than a Blue Acara if you are considering keeping larger tank mates.
Angel fish
Scientific name: Pterophyllum scalare
Adult size: 6”
Compatible with: Other Cichlids, gentle and semi-aggressive fish
Water temperature: 75.0 to 82.0° F
Minimum tank size: 30 gallons
Care level: Beginner
Origin: South America
Pterophyllum scalare, or Angel fish, is similar in size and temperament to the Blue Acara. Angelfish are a great addition to any aquarium because they come in so many different colors and patterns. They have long pointed fins that distinguish them from other members of the Cichlid family.
For the most part, Angelfish and Blue Acara fish share most of the same personality traits that make them great tankmates. One difference in their behavior is that Angelfish are less likely to dig and uproot plants, which is great news when it comes to aquarium maintenance.
Tilapia
Scientific name: Archocentrus nigrofasciatus
Adult size: 6”
Compatible with: Green Terror, Jack Dempsey, Blue Acara and Rainbow Cichlid
Water temperature: 74.0 to 82.0° F
Minimum tank size: 20 gallons
Care level: Beginner
Origin: Central America
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, also known as the Convict Cichlid, is white with black stripes and is known for its zebra-like appearance. Similar to other Cichlids, the Convict Cichlid is omnivorous and not picky, which makes it an easy fit for your feeding routine.
The Convict Cichlid may be smaller than the Blue Acara, but it is also more aggressive and therefore more difficult for your Blue Acara to bully. An important note about this fish is that because of its aggressive nature, it should not be kept with smaller fish, which will affect the types of fish you can keep in the same tank.
Fire mouth perch
Scientific name: Thorichthys meeki
Adult size: 6.7”
Compatible with: other Cichlids, fish of similar size and temperament
Water temperature: 70.0 to 75.0° F
Minimum tank size: 30 gallons
Care level: Beginner
Origin: Central America
Thorichthys meeki, or Fire Mouth Cichlid, is distinctive for its bright red belly and throat. Their bright red color contrasts beautifully with the brilliant blue of the Blue Acara, making them a great choice for tank mates.
Firemouth Cichlids are omnivores and will eat a similar diet to a Blue Acara, making them easy to feed. They are a bit aggressive like the Blue Acara and are similar in size so they are good community members. They can become more aggressive during their spawning period like many other fish species and should be closely monitored during this time
Emperor fish
Scientific name: Geophagus brasiliensis
Adult size: 11”
Compatible with: Discus, Blue Perch and Angelfish
Water temperature: 68.0 to 73.0° F
Minimum tank size: 40 gallons
Care level: Beginner
Origin: South America
Geophagus brasiliensis, also known as the Pearl Cichlid, is a larger member of the Cichlidae family, nearly a foot long! This fish is blue-gray and blue in color, turning brown, blue or purple when spawning. They have a longer lifespan, about 15 years when kept in captivity.
Pearl Cichlids can tolerate other fish species and get along well with Blue Acaras and other semi-aggressive and gentle fish. They are omnivorous and have a similar diet to Blue Acara fish, making them easy to feed. However, it should be noted that they become more aggressive when mating and should be monitored when this happens.
Tank requirements and water parameters
A tank with enough swimming area and hiding places among rocks and vegetation must be created for Blue Acaras to create a comfortable environment. This will give them security, help reduce stress levels and ensure the tank has the peace it needs as a community aquarium. A minimum 40 gallon tank is required for this species alone, with a 55 or 60 gallon breeding tank recommended.
This will allow for more distance so other tank mates can live peacefully. The pH should also be between 6.5 – 8 pH with temperatures around 74 to 82 degrees F. Additionally, a good substrate is fine sand or rounded gravel to resemble their natural habitat.
Conclusion
Choosing the right companion for your Blue Acara fish will not only ensure a harmonious living environment, but will also help enhance the diversity and beauty of your aquarium. With the right combination, you can create a balanced aquarium ecosystem where fish species can coexist and thrive. Always consider the size, personality and environmental requirements of each fish species when choosing a companion for your Blue Acara. By investing time and effort in research and preparation, you will have a vibrant and healthy aquarium that brings joy and relaxation every day.
