Elisabeth83
Fish Herder
I have a breeding pair of blue acaras in a 55 gallon along with a featherfin synodontis catfish and a striped rubber pleco. The acaras tend to breed every couple of weeks. In the beginning I would get rid of the eggs myself but after asking here on the forum members suggested I get a type of syno catfish which would eat the eggs. The last 3 times the acaras have bred the syno has managed to eat most of the eggs. The female acara is the dominant of the two and she wont let the male help her anymore in fanning the eggs. During that time she chases him and he has hide. Only during the courting time do they actually get along.
In a 55 I don't think you'll have room for a pair of acaras and a pair of firemouths. Acaras grow to be anywhere from 6 inches to 8 inches and I've seen 8 inch ones at the same lfs I purchased mine from so a 55 would only work for one pair of something I believe or maybe a mix although I have never tried that so I don't know which fish would work best.
So if you want a breeding pair but not the fry find yourself a male acara because I also believe you have a female as yours looks just like my female which the rounded dorsal fin and get yourself a good sized synodontis catfish. I bought my syno when it was very small and it couldn't hold it's own against the acaras but now it's about 4-5 inches long and it can withstand the bites and attacks of the acaras which eating the eggs.
In a 55 I don't think you'll have room for a pair of acaras and a pair of firemouths. Acaras grow to be anywhere from 6 inches to 8 inches and I've seen 8 inch ones at the same lfs I purchased mine from so a 55 would only work for one pair of something I believe or maybe a mix although I have never tried that so I don't know which fish would work best.
So if you want a breeding pair but not the fry find yourself a male acara because I also believe you have a female as yours looks just like my female which the rounded dorsal fin and get yourself a good sized synodontis catfish. I bought my syno when it was very small and it couldn't hold it's own against the acaras but now it's about 4-5 inches long and it can withstand the bites and attacks of the acaras which eating the eggs.
