Breeding Electric Blue Acara
How to breed Andinoacara pulcher, a substrate-spawning cichlid: pairing, spawning site, egg numbers, biparental care, hatch time and fry rearing.
Overview
Andinoacara pulcher is a substrate-spawning cichlid with biparental care. The pair selects and cleans a spawning site, then guards the eggs and fry together. The electric blue form is a color variant of the species and breeds in the same way.
Sexing
Males develop slightly pointed dorsal and anal fins and are typically larger with more vibrant coloration, especially during the breeding period, while females appear more rounded overall.
Pairing
The reliable approach is to buy about six young fish and let them grow and pair off naturally. Once a pair has bonded, the other fish can be removed unless the tank is very large.
Breeding Setup
- Slightly acidic water (pH 6.5-7.0), temperature 77-82 F (25-28 C)
- Air-powered filtration so fry are not drawn into a power filter
- Flat stones and broad-leaved plants (Echinodorus) as potential spawning sites
Spawning Behavior
The pair thoroughly cleans a flat rock, broad leaf, or a pit dug in the substrate. The female lays eggs in a line and the male fertilizes them sequentially. Up to about 200 eggs may be fertilized.
Egg & Fry Care
Eggs hatch within 48-72 hours, with the female tending the eggs while the male defends the site. Fry become free-swimming after roughly another 72 hours. Wikipedia notes the male may protect the young by taking them into its mouth when threatened. First foods are microworm and brine shrimp nauplii, and parental care typically lasts about two weeks before the pair may spawn again.
Common Challenges
First-time pairs may eat their initial spawns before settling into reliable parenting. Strong water flow can damage eggs and fry, so gentle, air-driven filtration is preferred.