The Many Faces of the Blue Acara Cichlid

The Blue Acara cichlid is one of the many breeds of cichlid which hobby aquarists prefer to put in their tanks. They are a hardy breed, who do not easily stress, and are great freshwater fish for beginners. The rest of this article will discuss Blue Acara cichlids in further depth, as well as some of the fish they are often mistaken for.

The Blue Acara can grow to be six inches in length, with a short thick body. It has a big forehead, along with rather long fins. There are many different color variations associated with this breed of fish, which is one of the main reasons this species is commonly mistaken for other species of cichlids.

One of the other species the Blue Acara cichlid is most commonly mistaken for is the Green Terror cichlid. For many years, both species were given the same name because people thought they were the same fish. In more recent years, the Green Terror cichlid has been given its own name, Aequidens rivalatus. The Green Terror cichlid, while similar in appearance, is much more aggressive than the more docile Blue Acara cichlid.

The Blue Acara cichlid is also often confused with younger Jack Dempsey's breed. However, as time passes, distinct differences are developed by each species. Like the Green Terror, the Jack Dempsey is much more aggressive and violent than the Blue Acara cichlid.

These cichlids can be breed in aquariums without much effort. Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is try to figure out which Blue Acara cichlid is the male and which is the female. The males usually have a hump, are larger and have larger fins than the females.

If you have a Blue Acara of each gender the female will be ready to breed after she grows to be 4 inches longer. These fish are open breeders and the female will lay her eggs on a flat rock. The female will tend to the eggs and the male will protect the area around them. The parents may even become quite aggressive towards other fish that come to close.

An insider secret for you: If you remove the eggs right after fertilization, the parents will probably mate again within two weeks. So if your goal is raise as many of these guys as possible then this is a tactic you can use.

The Blue Acara cichlid is a beautiful fish and is a breed that is fairly easy to care for. While often mistaken for other breeds of cichlids, they are the more docile species, and much less violent.

If you are interested in learning more about the Blue Acara cichlid then check out my website. Once there, you can also learn a thing or two about successful cichlid aquarium setup.