Max Size Of Blue Acara?

[RipSlider]

Hello all.

Currently trying to decide on my "centre piece" fish.

I REALLY like the blue acara's. However, currently I am building up a community tank, so space is being shared with lots of other things.

I have looked at losts of sites. In general, they list two different max sizes for blue acara's:

Some say 7-8"
others say 12"

Now, if they grow to 7" I have plenty of room, and they will fit perfectly. If they grow to 12" then I'll get something else instead, as I want the extra space for more community fish.

So, has anyone kept any blue acara's, either f1 or f0, and what size did yours grow to?

many thanks indeed

Steve

 

[Colin_T]

The biggest blue acara (Aequidens pulcher) I have seen was about 6 inches (body length, not including tail). They don't grow to 12 inches, that would be a nice looking fish but not gonna happen.

 

[cheesy feet]

Yeh, commonly they are mistaken for the 'green terror' which grows to around 12".Usually they are about 5 inches.

 

[shroob]

Definately not 12", what source says that ?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

The biggest I have seen was a good 7 inches. Most others I have seen where about 5-6.

 

[silverchild23]

They're beautiful. Could a Blue Acara get on with the following (yes, I know the answer will be most likely NOT)

2x Angelfish
4x Keyhole
2x Blue Ram
5x Pigmy Corydoras
5x Rummynose Tetra
1x BN Pleco

In a Juwel Rio 240?

 

[shroob]

They're beautiful. Could a Blue Acara get on with the following (yes, I know the answer will be most likely NOT)

2x Angelfish
4x Keyhole
2x Blue Ram
5x Pigmy Corydoras
5x Rummynose Tetra
1x BN Pleco

In a Juwel Rio 240?

I would say a blue acara could get on with those fish, the one's I would be careful with are the rummynose, but aslong as they are big enough not to be eaten I think it should work OK. I don't the acara will go after the cory's but don't hold me to it .
Though like every cichlid, personality varies and you could end up with a psyco of a fish or an ablsolute wuss, if it was me and I liked the blue acara I would be willing to give it a go, but have a back up plan ready.

 

[Colin_T]

I wouldn't put a blue acara in with any of those fish except maybe the bristlenose. It will kick hell out of the rams and keyholes, eat the pygmy corys and rummynose and bash the angels. Well maybe not bash the angels but it could turn nasty and the angels wouldn't stand a chance against it.

 

[shroob]

I wouldn't put a blue acara in with any of those fish except maybe the bristlenose. It will kick hell out of the rams and keyholes, eat the pygmy corys and rummynose and bash the angels. Well maybe not bash the angels but it could turn nasty and the angels wouldn't stand a chance against it.

You must have had a different experience with your blue acara than I did with mine. Way back when I first started I had one in a community tank and it behaved pretty well, though it died prematurely for some unkown reason. Blue acaras are pretty peaceful by cichlid standars, though like I said each one is different.

 

[silverchild23]

You reckon if I got a juvenile Acara then it may get on bettwe with the rest of the tank when it's fully grown?
Most of my tank is near full grown.

 

[cheesy feet]

Most blue acaras are usually more placid then sevs, never heard of a pyscho one...
Mine usto be kept in a commnutity with rummy noses, angels, and gouramis.

 

[silverchild23]

You reckon if I got a juvenile Acara then it may get on bettwe with the rest of the tank when it's fully grown?
Most of my tank is near full grown.
Is it a mid-tank or top-tank fish?

 

[raptorrex]

I wouldn't put a blue acara in with any of those fish except maybe the bristlenose. It will kick hell out of the rams and keyholes, eat the pygmy corys and rummynose and bash the angels. Well maybe not bash the angels but it could turn nasty and the angels wouldn't stand a chance against it.

never heard of a "nasty" acara, and even a two year old green terror has given, much the same fish, no problem.

I wouldn't put a blue acara in with any of those fish except maybe the bristlenose. It will kick hell out of the rams and keyholes, eat the pygmy corys and rummynose and bash the angels. Well maybe not bash the angels but it could turn nasty and the angels wouldn't stand a chance against it.

You must have had a different experience with your blue acara than I did with mine. Way back when I first started I had one in a community tank and it behaved pretty well, though it died prematurely for some unkown reason. Blue acaras are pretty peaceful by cichlid standars, though like I said each one is different.

i could not agree more

 

[cheesy feet]

They go just about everywhere if I rememer correctly.As shroob said their aggression depends on the fish, how big are pygmy cory's though?
Oh and I would increase the rummy nose shoal to about 10-15, it will look stunning.

 

[silverchild23]

They go just about everywhere if I rememer correctly.As shroob said their aggression depends on the fish, how big are pygmy cory's though?
Oh and I would increase the rummy nose shoal to about 10-15, it will look stunning.

I lied - I just couldn't remember the name of my Cories so I shoved in Pigmy as it was the first thing that came to mind. I believe they're Schwartz Cory. So at the moment they're about 3/4 of an inch , possibly an inch each.

I did try and up my rummynose shoal a little while back, but felt terrible - I got them when they were a little small, and by the morning four of the five had gone. I'll always make sure they're big before I buy now. It's hard to find them larger though.

I might certainly think about getting a blue acara at some stage - but perhaps not just yet. I worry about overstocking more than anything.