Super mean blue acara

[TheLorax]

So, I have wanted a blue acara for a long time but never saw one in an LFS. Until the electric blues showed up everywhere recently, anyways. But I wanted a regular one, so I bought one online. I am shocked at how aggressive he is. At barely 2" he is the smallest fish in a 90g tank but he bullies everyone else (6 geos and 2 rainbow cichlids twice his size) relentlessly.

I'm setting up a 55g so I might move him there, but then I feel like I could only do aggressive fish in that tank. Maybe a pair of salvini would keep him in check. However, I was already thinking of moving the rainbows to that tank since they are eating some of my plants....

Has anyone had this experience? I thought they were supposed to be chill. And yes, I am sure he is not a green terror.

[New2petro]

Sounds like you have got quite the little monster on your hands. I've had green terrors before and kept them for years with less aggression then you are having now. Good luck with him.

[morpheus]

generally with cichlids i find more fish is better to curb aggression if you have the room. when i add fish into my mbuna tank i add a few at a time so current tankmates tire out chasing all the new arrivals and they settle in quickly.

i have kept green terrors with more and less aggressive fish that those with no problems. normally geos are a lot more relaxed in my tank. they are the only ones with torn tails sadly. in any case, one fish will be the dominant one

and yes cichlids will tear up many live plants. only ones that may make it are thick waxy type leaves. i personally only use plastic now. not as pretty but less expensive replacing them

[troy tucker]

Most are pretty chill. But it a fish to fish thing.
What type of geo's? My geo's kill plants. Brasiliensis, Tapajo, and other. They eat the roots.

[TheLorax]

Red head tapajos. They are fine with my plants, only the rainbows ate my plants and I moved them to a 55 along with the acara. He doesn't mess with the rainbows in the new tank. I'm getting 3 more blue acaras for free to replace some that died after shipping, so hopefully I can get a pair to form in the 55g.

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