Blue Acara Biotope Correct Tankmates

[Ogertron3000]

Theres some nice standard blue acaras popping up in LFS around here, makes a change from the EBAs that have been all over the place the last few years.
Ive been trying to figure out what would be biotope correct tankmates but not having much luck. Internet says they are from trinidad and venezuala. Looking up fish from venzuala just brings up the Orinioco river which is huge and has everything from arowana to cardinal tetras. Does anyone know what fish they would most likely be sharing a habitat with?

 

[ryansmith83]

The fish in Colombia and Venezuela may or may not be pulcher, I think the jury is still out on that.

There is footage on YouTube of wild A. pulcher filmed in the Aripo River in Trinidad.

You can see other fish in the video. I did some googling and found another video showing various fish from the Aripo River. They mention the species in the video description.

Keep in mind that tank-raised blue acaras have been farm bred for decades now. They’ve likely been interbred with A. latifrons and A. rivulatus, so most are mutts. Which means you could really pick any biotope you wanted between Trinidad, Colombia, and Venezuela.

 

[Jexnell]

I looked this up myself back when I had some.
If going for a Trinidad scape use
White Skirt Tetras
Copper Cory's

Cory's easy to find, White Skirts more rare.

 

[beau1990]

This sounds like a job for duanes

 

[Toiletcar]

I’d check out TUIC’s list. Sometimes you can match up fish by location. All collected from the same river. Like Rio Tocantins for example. TUIC gets a lot of different species from that river. I’ve always wanted to do a biotype tank w/ fish and plants that are from the exact location. Not just region or country but the the exact river. It’s doable w/ SA fish. Nearly impossible to do that w/ CA fish because of lack of availability. Choices are mostly just cichlids and livebarers. Often the closest you can get are by region which there is a lot of variation and the same species can look very different. But also there is a lack of tetra and catfish options. There are a lot of species that are equally as beautiful as the SA tetras and catfish, but not available. Only CA tetras are astyanax species which are very rare in the hobby.

 

[duanes]

Here is a list of some of the most common species found in Trinidad, which "might" also, normally be found in LFSs
Many are also found in Panama (or their close cousins are), so some of my photos are the Panamanian versions
Tetras
Astyanax bimaculatus
Hyphessobrycon axelrodi
Roeiboides dayi
Roeboides below


Catfish
Corydorus aenius
Hyplosterum littorale


Cichlids (beside the blue acara)
Cichlasoma taenia
Crenicichla alta and saxatillis (saxatillis below)


Goby
Dormitator maculatus
Eleotris pisonis (Eleotris below)


Live Bearers
Poecilia reticulata (guppy)
Poecilia shenops (molly)


Killifish
Rivulus harti

Leaf fish
Polycentrus schomburgkii

 

[Toiletcar]

Here is a list of some of the most common species found in Trinidad, which "might" also, normally be found in LFSs
Many are also found in Panama (or their close cousins are), so some of my photos are the Panamanian versions
Tetras
Astyanax bimaculatus
Hyphessobrycon axelrodi
Roeiboides dayi
Roeboides below
View attachment 1449169

Catfish
Corydorus aenius
Hyplosterum littorale
View attachment 1449170

Cichlids (beside the blue acara)
Cichlasoma taenia
Crenicichla alta and saxatillis (below)
View attachment 1449171

Goby
Dormitator maculatus
Eleotris pisonis (Eleotris below)
View attachment 1449172

Live Bearers
Poecilia reticulata (guppy)
Poecilia shenops (molly)
View attachment 1449173

Killifish
Rivulus harti

Leaf fish
Polycentrus schomburgkii

Very cool fish ?
I’m being very anal though lol. But w/ the tetras only seen a. bimculatus for sale 2X, a. Aeneus once, and r. Guatemalensis once. And CB and not any specific location. The OP will have a ton of tetras to choose from.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Thanks Guys, very informative replies.
I have had my tank running for 8 months now, it just has an ever growing population of swordtails and guppies in it. The original plan was for multispinosa but I cant find anyat all and can feel myself getting bored with it now. I still like the C.A idea but 30G is limiting with the size, possibly a squeeze for the acaras too. Im also considering a pair of convict but dont want to see the livebearers get torn to shreds. My plan is a semi biotope where the fish are pretty much right but im not fussed about the plants too much. When i visit an LFS i do get tempted to just buy what I ilke and mix and match but im trying to stick to some kind of plan now.
True blue acaras are very rare here so they caught my eye, EBAs are everywhere. ive no idea how pure they are but they look nice and im not really planning on breeding for profit so its not really a big issue for me if they arent.
Some of the fish you guys have suggested are common here and some arent, there is still very little variety around since covid hit. I will take a look at the TUIC website, wish I could order from them as it would increase my options dramatically. Usually when I look at their site it makes me grumpy as I cant have the same things as you guys can, you even get them delivered to your front door!

 

[duanes]

Ogertron3000
I'm sure you know about this, but I didn't see your user name in any of the posts I glanced at.so I thought I'd post the name
the Australian Cichlid Enthusiasts Forem?

 

[Ogertron3000]

I check in on that forum but have never joined. Its sydney based and like a lot of forums is dying a slow death. Its mainly 5 or 6 regular members who are into african cichlids these days, it was great years ago. There was a melbourne based forum but that died off years ago.due to lack of action.
Theres an aquarium society here thats been around since the 60s , they used to hold auctions a few times a year but thats on hold too due to covid.
To be honest I try to support the LFS that are around my area. They havent had a good year due to corona so try to put a few $ their way to keep them afloat, I just wish there was better stock of american cichlids. At the moment they are all stocked up with standard fast moving livebesrers and tetras. I guess they dont want to be stuck with some slow selling fish in case theres another lockdown.