My Blue Acara growth and development

[Jexnell]

I’m not familiar with acaras but the last two pictures look like a male (maybe the same fish?)

Dorsal Fins look extended and pointy to me

Very good looking fish btw

They are the same fish.
But the male is behind her swimming by

So what I am going off is the last pair I had that I lost to the runaway heater.

So you see the one in front, that is the male I believe. Yes the females end in a point. Where as that hump will further develop.

These are the old pair. See the female in the back ground, same as my new ones, point end. Then the male's will develop more as he is feed good food and time

 

[Jexnell]

Found this one on YouTube

See the female is the same point end on dorsal, and male has what look like adult male Green Terror fins

 

[Jexnell]

So going back to this pic. The one in front looks just like my old male when I first got it and in time the hump part will mature into the showy one my old male had, and that meaty fellow in the vid has.

The other 3 look like my old female and the female in the vid. They have the sharp point end. Also you can see the male didn't have spangles in the tailfin, same as the one I believe is male of my new group.

 

[Jexnell]

Plot Twist.....
After watching them these last two days it seems we may have 2m2f. Going back to that group pic, I numbered them.
Ever since I got them number 3 has been a tad smaller, and most of the time lighter in color. Well it seems that it may be a male as well.
Number 2 and 4 go back and forth between 1 and 3 doing courtship dancing/displays sizing up him as potential mates.

 

[Jexnell]

They are so entertaining at this size. At times they act like adults doing thier courtship dancing, staking claims to areas.
Then at times they throw all that out the window and group up near the FX4 outputs and takes turns diving into the current and trying to swim against the flow .....normally getting blown back past the heater....them back it goes to the group and waits for its next turn to dive in.

 

[Jexnell]

Observation:
The Acaras like to follow the pack of Corys around, swimming just above them, eating bits of food the Corys kick up.

 

[Jexnell]

A budding romance??

 

[Jexnell]

Well yesterday one of the Acaras was breathing hard. Wake up this morning and it's floating, dead
RIP little Acara

 

[Jexnell]

No clue to the reason. Was fine till yesterday then started breathing heavily. So was keeping my eye on it. Didn't make it thru the night tho.
No issues with anyone else in the tank. No marks, no wierd actions. I wonder if Acaras are week to warm/hot water. Those other two died to hot water.

 

[Jexnell]

That white spot on its side is a missing scale, think a Cory might have poisoned it? Got to close, jabbed with one of thier barbs? Or you think it's a heat thing like the other two I lost to the runaway heater.

Sucks if it's a heat deal, 3 of the next 5 days are forecasted for 90+ making us set a new record for most 90+ days in one summer. The third day will give us 30days of 90+heat since June 1st.