Green Terror 2-3"
Overview
| Synonyms | Acara aequinoctialis, Aequidens azurifer, A. rivulatus, Chromis rivulata |
| Distribution | Ecuador and Peru. |
| Maximum Size | 25cm (9.8") |
| Temperature | 20-24°C |
| Water Parameters | Will acclimatise to a wide range of conditions. pH: 6.5-8.0, dH: up to 25 degrees. |
| Compatibility | Non-community |
| Lighting | Medium |
| Sexual Dimorphism | Mature males are larger, more colourful, develop extensions to the anal and dorsal fins, and a prominent nuchal hump. |
| Feeding | Flake, granules, cichlid pellets and frozen foods |
Description
Care
The Gold Saum is native to the coastal streams of northern Peru and northwards to western Ecuador, as far as the Esmeraldas River. Relatives from further north of the Esmeraldas River are thought to represent Andinoacara stalsbergi (once believed to be synonymous with A. rivulatus) the real Green Terror - despite every commercial breeder using this common name for rivulatus. The aquarium should be spacious, with a soft sand substrate and plenty of hiding places/visual barriers created using driftwood, rocky caves, and robust planting such as Java Fern or Anubias sp. tied to the decor, along with some floating species. Filtration should be efficient but water movement not too vigorous, and small frequent water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum. Green Terrors are notoriously aggressive and territorial fish, and as such are best maintained singly or as a known compatible male-female pair. If housing a pair in a modest aquarium, they should be the only cichlids in the tank as tankmates would be attacked and quite likely killed if they decide to breed. If keeping a single specimen, in larger quarters it could be combined with other robust cichlids, large armoured catfish, silver dollars, sizeable barbs etc.
Feeding
Omnivorous and will accept most aquarium foods offered. Try to keep it varied with good quality carnivore and herbivore flakes, sinking pellets/sticks, and a mixture of frozen foods such as white mosquito larvae, bloodworm, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis, krill, and chopped prawns, along with some fresh vegetable matter.
