Blue Acara tank mates

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qtrhorse89

qtrhorse89

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 13, 2009
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North Carolina
Okay I recently set up a 40gallon with the intention of getting a puffer but couldn't find the one I wanted and I'm impatient so I went to the lfs just to look around. I fell in love with a blue acara, did a bit of reading about him, and brought him home. Basically the tank is his, the worker that spent the most time with him said he was very aggressive so I doubt he'd tolerate any other mid swimming fish but I thought one of the smaller fancy plecos might make a nice tank mate for him. Anyone have any experience with this fish and how well they play with others? I usually keep puffers and brackish fish so he's my first cichlid. Thanks for any advice.
 
I kept my blue acara pair in a 40 gallon breeder (36"x18" footprint) and kept serpae tetras with them. The red complimented their colors nicely. Had a bristlenose pleco with them except when I wanted to raise the eggs/fry.
 
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If it was very aggressive before you put it in it's own tank, you might have a problem keeping it with stuff. Try throwing some cheapo fish in there with it (not feeders) and see how he acts towards them, before adding something that costs a bit more. As far as another stand alone fish, the dominance will probably get in the way in a tank that size.
 
alright thanks I'll try that.

EDIT: Since I've had him though he seems more timid than anything else, won't even eat with me standing by the tank. He might just need some more time to settle in though
 
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Every blue acara i've ever owned were at the bottom of the pecking order in my community tanks though larger then 40gals.

If he is still a juvenile you could try a Firemouth or Convict.

I've actually had Acara's with Angelfish before,no problems.
 
qtrhorse89;3302191; said:
alright thanks I'll try that.

EDIT: Since I've had him though he seems more timid than anything else, won't even eat with me standing by the tank. He might just need some more time to settle in though
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lets see a pic i love blue acara.:D :)
 
my experience with Blue Acaras - - most acaras*, really - - is that they are not particulalry aggressive . . . while I can't totally dismiss what the guy at the LFS told you, I would rely on your own judgement

I would certainly consider adding a firemouth or a convict (maybe a female convict) just to see how things go . . . with a 40G, you're probably not going to want to have more than 3 small-to-medium size cichlids anyway

I'd like to see a pic also, Blue Acaras are my favorite cichlid (unfortunately, mine died last month)


* Green Terrors are the exception
 
j__l__e;5068175; said:
You are sure it isn't a Green Terror? Pet stores often mix them up with Blue Acaras. If it's a green terror that would explain it being agressive
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That's a good question.
 
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