Acara turquoise: photo, content, compatibility with other fish in the aquarium

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Turquoise akara is famous not only for its magnificent view. In the West, it is often called "green horror". This is due to its aggressiveness towards other inhabitants of the aquarium. But this does not mean that the fish should live alone. The task of the owner is to create optimal conditions for individuals of this species, to add suitable fish to them. Then there will be no problem.

Different from other species

Turquoise acara is similar to the bluish-spotted representative of the species. For some time, these fish were not isolated as separate individuals. In fact, an inexperienced person can confuse them. Although a detailed comparison can be seen the difference.

The turquoise resident of the aquarium has scales of light blue and light green, the center with a dark spot of irregular shape, there is an orange or light edging on the dorsal and caudal fins.

In addition, the turquoise fish can grow up to thirty centimeters in length. In mature males it growsgrowth on the frontal part.

Area

Aqara was first discovered by Güntern in 1859. In the wild, it is found in the western part of Ecuador, Peru, Brazil. She prefers to live in quiet reservoirs with clear or muddy water. Feeds on insects, crustaceans, worms, vegetation.

Its name is translated from Latin as "stream". In fact, the turquoise acara is a breeding form of the blue cichlid.

Description

The fish belongs to the cichlid family. In the wild, the turquoise acara has a length of eighteen to thirty centimeters. In captivity, these figures are much smaller - sixteen to twenty centimeters. An individual lives for seven to ten years. With good care, life expectancy can be extended.

The body of the fish is wide, flattened laterally. Its stigma and gill covers are decorated with mother-of-pearl and turquoise stripes.

The difference between a male and a female

Pisces are quite easy to distinguish by gender. The male acara turquoise has a relatively larger size, its anal fins are colored blue, and there is a wide red edging on the caudal fin. On his forehead, a fatty outgrowth of a rounded shape is formed. It indicates the sexual maturity of the male.

The female turquoise acara does not have a specific growth, but shows more aggression. Her anal fins are colored green, and the color of the whole body is slightly darker than that of the male.

Containment conditions

Most of the negative reviews from cancer owners are related to the complexity of their content. Therefore, before acquiring these beautiful pets, you should make sure that the conditions created will be optimal for new residents. Then the photo of the turquoise akara will cause only positive emotions. These fish are recommended only to experienced aquarists.

All South American cichlids need a lot of space. One individual should have one hundred and fifty liters of water. If there are several fish, then the aquarium should be at least three hundred liters in volume.

Ideally, you should use soft, slightly acidic water for the aquarium. It should circulate at low and medium levels. It is also important to provide effective biological filtration. The habitat must be well lit. Part of the space should be occupied by stones, caves, all kinds of shelters. To reduce the level of acidity and soften the water, you can use driftwood, which is placed in the aquarium. Leave plenty of room for swimming in the center.

Coarse gravel is placed on the bottom. The water temperature should fluctuate between twenty-one and twenty-six degrees Celsius above zero.

Feeding

Turquoise Akara is a carnivorous fish. She is very picky about food. Her diet should consist of a variety of foods. From food, the cichlid will agree to bloodworms, krill, shrimp, plankton, green vegetables. Good fish refers to pellets, which are industrially produced specifically for its species. Also suitable are cereals. To maintain a beautiful color, you should give her red earthworms. Green peas, cucumber, lettuce leaves are suitable as vegetables. They need to be finely chopped before serving.

Don't give her beef or other red meat. It contains a high percentage of protein, which will upset the digestive system.

Adult should be fed once or twice a day. It is better to break the portions into several parts. Then the akara will eat all the food. If you give her food once in a large volume, she will leave part of the food. Organic matter will start to rot and the water in the aquarium will deteriorate faster.

Compatibility

Acaras turquoise are able to get along in one tank only with species similar in size. The choice of neighbors should be approached with caution. Despite its alarming nickname, the fish is a moderately aggressive cichlid. There are species much more dangerous for others. Akara can be kept with other fish.

An important condition for reducing aggressiveness is a lot of free space in the aquarium. With the required amount of space, the individual will not drive away its neighbors. It is also important that she has enough room to grow.

Akaru cannot be settled with other types of aggressive cichlids. It has already been mentioned that the female behaves most violently. Her nervousness increases during the spawning season, so she needs to provide a lot of personal space, she may need to be resettled.

Fishthe smaller acara will eat it, and the larger ones may offend the cichlid. The best neighbors for her can be the following types:

• Severum are fairly peaceful cichlids that do not require much space. Adults reach a length of fifteen centimeters, are distinguished by a bright color of various shades. The most popular are red and blue fish.
• Catfish is a great addition to most aquariums. They live at the bottom of the tank, feeding on the food that has fallen to the bottom. Their sizes and colors are varied. Have a peaceful nature.
• Scalars - attract with an unusual body shape, pleasant color. Aggressiveness is shown only during spawning.

Specialists also do not recommend that more than one pair of cancers live in the tank. Otherwise, the tenants will constantly quarrel with each other.

Reproduction

Unlike keeping the turquoise acara, its reproduction is not such a complicated process. Of course, nothing will work without an established couple. It is better to prepare for breeding at the stage of arranging an aquarium. A flat wide pebble should be placed at the bottom. It will spawn. If the fish does not like the pebbles, it will dig the soil to the bottom and lay eggs on the glass. This will seriously harm the future fry.

Spawning can be stimulated by maintaining the desired water parameters. She should raise her temperature to twenty-five to twenty-six degrees Celsius above zero. Fresh water should also be added more frequently.

Females lay about four hundred eggs. Males become sexually mature at eightmonths. They fertilize eggs in open water. It is important to keep an eye on the "girl". If she becomes too aggressive, she should be removed immediately. Otherwise, she will eat caviar.

After three or four days, the female will transfer the emerging larvae to the prepared holes. After another one or two days, the larvae will become fry. They will be able to swim freely in the tank. The fry feed on microplankton. You can also give them ground live brine shrimp, crushed flakes.

In some cases, both parents may begin to eat the fry, so the eggs can be moved to a separate tank. Water can be disinfected with antifungal drugs.

The fry grow slowly at first. But after reaching two centimeters, the growth rate accelerates sharply. Raising young fish is quite difficult. They respond to any water problem. Its quality can be affected by new tenants, plants, soil, decorations. All of these things can contain various bacteria and dangerous chemicals. New items should be cleaned in advance before placing them in the same tank with young cichlids.

Acara is easy to get. Many specialized stores offer these fish at an affordable price. It depends on the age of the individual: the older it is, the more expensive it is.

Diseases

The owner should worry not only about the compatibility of the turquoise acara with other fish. From improper content, which is expressed in the quality of water and feed, the cichlid can get sick. Then active, confident inthe fish hides itself in a corner and does not eat anything.

You can notice something wrong by changing the color of the acara and the state of its fins. If they show signs of rot, you should consult a doctor. Decreased appetite is also a bad sign. Treatment is with antibiotics. They are usually added to the main food.

If a cichlid lives alone in an aquarium with other fish species, it is likely that she is under stress. It is necessary to follow how the neighbors relate to akara. If she is offended, only resettlement can solve the problem.

When all the conditions for keeping these South American cichlids are met, they will bring a lot of positive emotions to their owners. They have such a bright appearance and wayward character that only them can be enough for an aquarist.