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Cichlids
/ South America / Acaras / Green Terror
Green Terror
"Aequidens" rivulatus | Pictures
SYN: Acara
aequinoctialis, A. rivulata, Chromis rivulatus
PD: An oval-shaped cichlid with a rounded caudal fin. Older males develop a large lump on
the forehead. The upper back is olive green, while the flanks are iridescent light green. Each scale has a dark green marking
giving the fish several sets of broken stripes.
Two to four iridescent gold, lateral stripes are also located in this
area. The belly is pinkish brown as is the head. The cheeks are marked with lines and dots that
are iridescent turquoise in color.
The fins are marked with iridescent green to blue markings and the
edge of the dorsal and caudal fins is orange or white-depending on the geographical population.
SIZE: Males to 8" (20 cm), females to 6" (15 cm).
SS: Blue Acara ("Aequidens"
pulcher). The Green Terror was known as A. pulcher
for some time. Aequidens aequinoctialis may be a separate species as may be A. azurifer.
HAB: South America; Columbia, Ecuador, Peru.
S: bottom, middle
TANK: A 36” (91 cm) or 35 gallon (132 L) tank is sufficient for smaller individuals (under
5"). Adult specimen require a tank measuring at least 48” (122 cm) with a capacity of 55 gallons (209
L). Provide
many hiding places among rocky areas and driftwood.
Use large, hardy plants if any, because this fish may burrow. Leave
an open swimming area.
WATER: 6-8 pH (6.8), 4-20 dH (8), 68-77°F (20-25°C)
SB: A territorial fish that can be combined with other large, robust, aggressive fish. Pairs
form a nuclear family.
SC: Cichlasomines from South and Central America, Pimelodids, Loricarids, Doradids, Silver
Dollars, Pacus, Arawana.
FOOD: Large live and dry foods, pellets, live fish, frozen
SEX: Males will develop a large hump on their forehead with age. The females are usually darker in color
and smaller.
B: Breeding the Green Terror is somewhat difficult. Try using warmer water with a temperature
of 77-81°F (25-27°C), a pH of 6.5, and a water hardness from 5-8 dH. As many as 300 eggs are laid on carefully
cleaned rocks. The fry hatch in 3-4 days and are free swimming after 9-12 days, at which time they can
be fed Brine Shrimp. The fry are sensitive to water pollutants and should be changed often. They are slow growing until the reach
3/4", when their growth rate accelerates.
BP: 7. The Green Terror is a moderately difficult fish to breed.
R: Keep up good water conditions for this fish's full colors to come out. Some researchers believe that A. rivulatus has some dwarf sub-species that grow no larger than 5" (13 cm). Sexually mature at 4-5" (10-13
cm).
DC: 6. An aggressive cichlid that is sensitive to old water. The Green Terror requires lives foods.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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