blue acara help

[freeswimmer]

Hi, newbie here... was wondering if someone could help! my Blue acara currently about 3.5" (who had lovely vertical stripes when i bought it) seems to have lost them apart from at feeding time, (not sudden) is this normal?

its feeding fine, and showing no other signs of distress. im feeding a combo of cichlid pellet, algae wafers, the occasional cucumber pieces, bloodworm, daphnia and artemia, so don't think its to do with the food. Its currently in a 55 gal with a school of zebra danio (12) and some yoyo loaches (6).

a bit frustrated as it was showing lovely colours when i got it, and want it to get back to that. that being said could i have misidentified it (it doesn't have the orange band on the dorsal or cordal just a thin white band on the dorsal) could it be a white saum???

Any help/ advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Rob13]

A picture would help. How long have you had it as they can take a while to get them stable after a move. It's not unusual for them to change colour at feeding time.

 

[freeswimmer]

had it for a good few months now - at a guess i would say 6, it wasn't long after it settled in that the stripes faded away, unfortunately won't be able to get a pic until next weekend, but will get one up. water params are fine (or were yesterday when i checked). so is it normal for the stripes only to appear when its feeding??

 

[Rob13]

its not unusual. mine only used to colour up to there best during breeding



mine when not in breeding colour

 

[Runitis]

The bars are stress bars/mood bars and do go away and resurface when stressed or has a change in moods! It Normal. No bars means he's happy!

My fish life is sparked up with Polys

 

[freeswimmer]

well thats put my mind at rest! cheers! bit of a shame as IMO they look gorgeus with the striping. one more question... what do you reckon to putting an ebjd in there with it?? i believe there not as territorial, nor do they grow as big as the normal jd

 

[Rob13]

EBJD aren't an easy fish to get to reach there potential and they come with many issues. if that is a fish you want to keep id do some reading first. what is the reason for a EBJD ? what are you looking for in a tank mate?

 

[freeswimmer]

really looking for a larger centerpiece as such, something with a bit of character, was toying with the idea of a normal JD (but they get to big for my setup and the acara wouldn't stand a chance) was also thinking severum but havent seen any in the lfs' that inspire me. and know what you mean in terms of the ebjd... pretty much a black sheep as such. but look stunning IMO, around the right size and temperment from what i understand. It's just making sure i get one that is healthy and likely to pass the month old mark (which id imagine is going to be trial and error)

 

[Rob13]

I've kept blue Acara and green terrors together with no problem. GT's have character and nice colour when mature.
If you really wanted an EBJD try and find a local breeder or a Lfs you have used and trust. Try to acquire one around the 3" mark if you can.
Where in the uk are you?

 

[freeswimmer]

cheers and noted, got a lfs i trust nearby that has them in stock, just a bit small by the sounds of it, was planning to add a few more flowerpots and re-arranging the tank when i decide to drop one in (ebjd or other) im over in bolton, was thinking about GT's, but i believe they may grow a bit big for a 55 gal, any others you'd recommend, want to go down the larger cichlid route but not too big, around the 10" mark fully grown i think would be my limit, allthough that being said, i do need an excuse to get a larger tank (its just the small matter of pursuading the mrs!)

Any others you would recommend??