Cichlid Profiles - Aequidens patricki
 

Aequidens patricki, a rather newly described fish from the streams of Peru has no common name. It has the typical oval Acara shape, and yellow-brown ground color with small iridescent pale green scale spots. It has a very large black midbody spot which may stretch from the lateral line to the dorsal fin. There is a vague lateral band down the midbody which bisects the spot. It has a black cheek spot, and the rest of the chin has green white worm shaped squiggles. It fins are a copper gray, with or without pearling. It is a hardy fish found in pH 5.8-7 and 77-81 degree water. It gets 6 inches long. It is a midly aggreesive carnivore, suitable for cichlid community tanks. It likes and sand substrate and rocks and is plant tolerant.

They breed in streams of the Rio Pachitea and Aguaytia, and are open water spawners. They can be tank bred as well. the lay their eggs on a rcok or broad leafed plant and spit on them to help disguise them. They then move the fry to a pit. They are good parents. See "Images of Aequidens patricki " for photos.