Blue-Dotted Acara (Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus) Breeding Guide

Breeding Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus: an open substrate spawner from Panama and Costa Rica producing hundreds of eggs under biparental care.

Overview

Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus is a Central American acara found on the Atlantic slope of Panama and the Pacific slope of Costa Rica, reaching up to about 19.5 cm SL. It inhabits stagnant and slow, shallow waters rich in organic material and feeds on aquatic insects. It is an open substrate spawner with biparental care, and is among the more approachable cichlids to breed.

Sexing

Males grow larger and tend to develop more extended finnage, but definitive sexing is easiest by venting or by observing a settled, established pair.

Conditioning

Keep a group and allow a pair to form, then condition well. The species tolerates a broad range of conditions, recorded over a temperature of 22-29 °C, pH 5.5-8.0 and hardness of about 1.5-8 dH.

Breeding Setup

• Temperature 22-29 °C; pH within 5.5-8.0; hardness about 1.5-8 dH
• Flat rocks or other open surfaces as spawning sites
• Slow-moving, mature water with some cover

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

This cichlid is an open bottom spawner that produces eggs by the hundreds, laid on a cleaned flat surface and fertilised by the male.

Egg & Fry Care

Both parents care for the eggs and fry until the fry have been free-swimming for about a week, guarding and herding the brood across the substrate.

Common Challenges

The species is semi-aggressive and becomes territorial when breeding, so tankmates may need to be removed or given ample space. Large clutches mean fry growout can require significant rearing capacity.