AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Expert: Ron Coleman Date: 6/5/2008 Subject: blue acara compatability
Question recently inherited an approx five inch blue acara from a friend who sold his tank. I currently have him or her in ten gallon quarantine tank. My 75 gal .is home to dwarf cichlids so I fear putting the blue acara with them even though from what i have read it is not as aggressive as most cichlids. I also have two approx, six inch Discus in 55 gal with a dozen neon tetras and some corys. Would blue acara and discus be alright together? or am I doing some wishful thinking? I could take the acara to fish store but it is such a handsome fish! Thanks in advance.
Answer Hi Leland,
I can't say for sure but I strongly suspect the blue acara will be fine with the discus and the corys. I would be a little more concerned about the neon tetras; the acara might be interested in chasing them.
If the tank has lots of plants in it, the tetras would be much safer than if it is more open water.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
