Cichlid Profile - Green Terror
 

Aequidens rivulatus, the Green Terror, is the one "bad apple"n the Acara bunch. although it is very intelligent and has its endearing qualities to collectors of large cichlids. It is found from the Tumbes River in Peru along the west cost of South America to Equador. They can get a foot long in the wild or a 100 gallon tank, but will get stunted at 6-8 inches in a 55. They reach sexual maturity at 5 inches, and they become progressively more aggressive as they grow and age. There are occasional placid ones, however. One of my friends has had a large male for 4 years ina 70 gallon with 3 large Parrot Cichlids who it started attacking when it reacherd 6 inches. He came up with innovative technique of tapping it one its head hard whenever it tried to bite, and now the Green Terror just herds the Parrots into a corner.

It closely resembles the smaller Blue Acara, but is a bit more colorful with a body suffused with iridescent orange, green and blue and much longer, flowing fins. The young are brownish. The adult males grow a large nuchal hump. They are very hardy and don't care much about pH and do fine from 6 to 8. They like cool water, 68-76 degrees most of the time, but only breed at about 80. They are actually a good starter fish for a large cichlid enthusiast with a tank of at least 55 gallons, decorated with rocks and roots. They are avid diggers and easy to breed at the high part of their temperature range. I have bred a pair in a 55 gallon tank. They started off as juvenile residents, and eventually killed the few other cichlids in their tank. They kill by scraping large areas bare of scales, rather than by lip locking. They are among the ferocious parents I have ever seen. Their bites will draw blood if you venture anywhere close to their nest. They lay up to 400 eggs on a flat, scrupulously cleaned surface. They are carnivores with voracious appetites.

They can be tank mates for Oscars, Jack Dempseys, Jaguars, Convicts, Firemouths, and small Flowerhorns if they arte not paired. Pictures available at "Images of Green Terror Cichlids."