BLUE ACARA

The blue acara (Andinoacara pulcher) is a colorful fresh water fish in the cichlid family. According to WK, this fish can be found in various freshwater habitats, ranging from standing water to flowing streams, in Venezuela. They can reach lengths of 16 cm (6.3 in). The scientific species name is indicative to its looks; pulcher meaning "beautiful" in Latin. The blue acara is a common cichlid sold in many aquarium stores, and is sometimes confused with the larger green terror (A. rivulatus).

The body of the blue acara is stocky and compact with a steel blue-gray coloration. Noticeable horizontal green lines occur on their faces and their blueish-green scales give them a sparkling appearance. They also have long, flowing fins with a hint of orange to the tips.

Blue acaras natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a pH of 6.5-8.0, a water hardness of 25° dGH, and a water temperature of 22–30 °C (72–86 °F).^[4][5]