The Blue Acara requires an aquarium of at least 50-gallons, with a sandy bottom, rocks and plenty of hiding places among the rocks. Live plants should be planted in pots to protect the roots from these fish. The Blue Acara is generally peaceful with other fish of similar size, but can get territorial during breeding time.

The Blue Acara is an open-breeder and will accept a range of water conditions. To promote breeding, raise aquarium temperature to 78-82°F. The Blue Acara readily pairs and forms a patriarch/matriarch family and both the male and female will care for the young. The female will lay the eggs on a cleaned rock. They will spawn about every two weeks if the young are removed from the aquarium.

The Blue Acara is omnivorous and will eat most prepared and frozen foods, including freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and ocean plankton, as well as flake food and Cichlid pellets.