Pair Of Blue Acaras In 55 Gallon

[Elisabeth83]

I finally decided to stock my 55 gallon with blue acaras so today I went out and bought a pair or well what I hope will be a pair. I asked the guy about buying more and having them pair off naturally and asked how that worked in their shop. He said that's the best way but if you buy the fish and then want to return them you don't get any money/credit in return so I couldn't see myself buying 4 extra fish for about $30 US dollars just to return them and get nothing and then them re-selling them

Anyways I was talking with the guy about what other types of fish could be stocked with the acaras but he thought it would be best just to keep the acaras and that's it in the 55. Some other sites I've read said they can be kept with other types of cichlids and some other smaller fish. Maybe only in bigger tanks though?

What are your opinions? Should I just keep the tank stocked with the pair or could I add maybe something else? Not necessarily more cichlids but something else that would work with Acaras? Or could I add another pair of something?

 

[Paul_MTS]

you could proble keep a few cats in there but your LFS is giving you some sound advice.

I have a pair of blue acaras (not breeding) and a breeding pair of firemouths in my 100g with various cats, plecs and other bits and bob, all in all very well stocked!

and the firemouths certainly keep anything that comes close on there toes/fins. so in a 55 your doing to be cutting it tight with teritories to be having other cichlids and such like.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Thanks Paul for your help! I think I'll just keep it stocked with the 2 Acaras for now. I think they'll appreciate like that it anyways. I kind of wish I had a bigger tank now though so I could stock it more similar to yours.

I've been noticing that a lot of "Blue Acaras" differ from eachother greatly sometimes even looking like they are 2 different fish. Í've seen some that are more short bodied with high dorsal fins and then some more long bodied with shorter dorsal fins and I've noticed their colors can really differ. I saw some yesterday that were almost completely black and then another one I saw was light gray with beautiful shimmering colors of orange and yellow on his top dorsal fin.

 

[lucky62]

Hi , there are at least 2 Aequidens sold as blue Acaras , A Pulcher , and A Caerulopuntatus [ may be and old name ] , anyway like many cichlids the base color can change quickly from dark to light .

my Son and I noticed this just last week looking at a tank full of Juvi Jack Demps , some were very dark , others light , my Son asked if they were different fish , I started to explain , as one swam to the other side of the tank , and in seconds went from light to dark color , swam back and changed back , guess there was something that aroused him in some way .


You could try a group of gold barbs , I had some that grew to about 3.5 inches nose to tail

some giant danios , or a group of rainbows .

smaller schooling fish could be viewed as food .

I wouldn't put other cichlids in

Cat fish could be a good idea , the problem is cats like synos and pims can get kind Territorial , down right mean , I've seen it in my own tanks , this could upset your Acaras .........never kept any kind of cories with the ones I had so I can't offer an opinion .......might be something out there .........or just let them have the bottom to themselves , that would be best IMO ..........

 

[scrappy]

I keep 2 Sterbai Corys in my cichlid tank and they dont bother the cichlids and visa versa, mind you my Sterbai are not your average size you buy from the LFS, i got mine from a display tank and they were fully grown large Sterbai.

 

[Paul_MTS]

i'ved never kept a syno, so i won't comment on them but can't say i'm seen ANY agresiosn ever from my pim pictus's. i have 4 in the tank mentioned above they just get along fine, always moving.

 

[lucky62]

i'ved never kept a syno, so i won't comment on them but can't say i'm seen ANY agresiosn ever from my pim pictus's. i have 4 in the tank mentioned above they just get along fine, always moving.

mine were in a 70 gallon , and often fought over the same area with my Jewel cichlids[ and not beaten by ] , your tank affords more room however , and perhaps can explain your not having a problem .

this tank is even smaller at 55 gallons , if breeding is on Elisebeth mind , having such fast and busy cats on the lower level could be a problem .

 

[Elisabeth83]

Hi , there are at least 2 Aequidens sold as blue Acaras , A Pulcher , and A Caerulopuntatus [ may be and old name ] , anyway like many cichlids the base color can change quickly from dark to light .

my Son and I noticed this just last week looking at a tank full of Juvi Jack Demps , some were very dark , others light , my Son asked if they were different fish , I started to explain , as one swam to the other side of the tank , and in seconds went from light to dark color , swam back and changed back , guess there was something that aroused him in some way .

Ok it makes sense now!! I didn't realize they could change colors so dramatically. I too thought the almost black Acaras and gray Acaras were different fish. I'd like to know why they change colors like that...or what they were "aroused" by

I'm not sure what I want to do... it could kind of be nice with something else in the tank but then again the Acaras are going to grow and get big and when they do I think it'll be better for them just to have the tank to themselves.

How long will it take these guys to get 4-5+ inches?

By the way I just wanted to mention this tank used to have A LOT of snails in it and since adding the cichlids theres maybe 1-2 bigger ones left. They must of eaten them all during the night Not that I mind I'm actually glad they got rid of them for me!!

 

[lucky62]

Hi , there are at least 2 Aequidens sold as blue Acaras , A Pulcher , and A Caerulopuntatus [ may be and old name ] , anyway like many cichlids the base color can change quickly from dark to light .

my Son and I noticed this just last week looking at a tank full of Juvi Jack Demps , some were very dark , others light , my Son asked if they were different fish , I started to explain , as one swam to the other side of the tank , and in seconds went from light to dark color , swam back and changed back , guess there was something that aroused him in some way .

Ok it makes sense now!! I didn't realize they could change colors so dramatically. I too thought the almost black Acaras and gray Acaras were different fish. I'd like to know why they change colors like that...or what they were "aroused" by

I'm not sure what I want to do... it could kind of be nice with something else in the tank but then again the Acaras are going to grow and get big and when they do I think it'll be better for them just to have the tank to themselves.

How long will it take these guys to get 4-5+ inches?

By the way I just wanted to mention this tank used to have A LOT of snails in it and since adding the cichlids theres maybe 1-2 bigger ones left. They must of eaten them all during the night Not that I mind I'm actually glad they got rid of them for me!!

color changes : same kinds of thing that make people turn red

fear , anger , seeing a mate[ mating /egg guarding ], seeing a threat , sometimes while eating ..............then changing back to feeling secure ............
acaras will be more tolerant of tank mates than most cichlids
20 cm for A Pulcher [ 7 "or so ]............A Caerulopuntatus around 13 cm [ according to the book I just put down ]

what kind of snails ?

 

[freddyk]

By placing a few secure hiding spots in the tank catfish shouldn't be a problem - the problem they could cause is that when the Acara are old enough to breed the eggs will likely be eaten during the night. The result of this can also be beneficial - without a aggression of brood care in the tank, your options for tankmates would open up and some of those ideas mentioned like giant Danios would be possible. The fish would still go through the spawning and show the great behavior and color because of it.

Starting with the two fish is risky though, it's too bad your LFS won't help you out on this. If it doesn't work and you end up having to remove one of them, it will be that much harder to find a mate since you'll have one larger fish and will only be able to find juveniles.

 

[Elisabeth83]

By placing a few secure hiding spots in the tank catfish shouldn't be a problem - the problem they could cause is that when the Acara are old enough to breed the eggs will likely be eaten during the night. The result of this can also be beneficial - without a aggression of brood care in the tank, your options for tankmates would open up and some of those ideas mentioned like giant Danios would be possible. The fish would still go through the spawning and show the great behavior and color because of it.

Starting with the two fish is risky though, it's too bad your LFS won't help you out on this. If it doesn't work and you end up having to remove one of them, it will be that much harder to find a mate since you'll have one larger fish and will only be able to find juveniles.

freddyk- I took your advice and went to my lfs and purchased 3 more. I talked with the girl there and she was going to talk to her boss and see if something could be worked out. This isn't the same place I bought the other 2 from. The other place said they would take them back but not give me anything for them. I guess if worse comes to worse when I do get a pair I'll have to take the remaining 3 in and get nothing for them.

I bought what I think are 2 females and 1 male. The 2 I had before I believe are a male and female so I think I have a good mix. At least I hope so!!

When will I start to see a pair form? days, weeks, months? Even if I see a pair bonding should I wait it out? I don't want to act too quickly and get rid of the other 3 only to find out the the others weren't really pairing up.

Too bad they all wont get along peacefully forever..I'm afraid I'm going to start getting attached and the longer it takes to get a pair the more attached I'll become. I've already got a favorite "male" and favorite "female" so I really hope they pair up.

At the moment the bags are still floating in the tank so in a few mins I'll see what the reactions are.

About getting other fish..once I get a true pair I think I might opt for some rainbow fish...would praecox work or would they be too small and seen as lunch?

Thanks everyone for your help!