Cichlid Profiles - Aequidens diadema

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This attractive Acara, common from Peru through Brazil to Venezuela has no common English name. It is a popular aquarium fish in Germany and the Orient. It has a yellow-brown base color and black-edged fins with a very large black botch about 2/3 of the way down its side. The blotch extends up to the dorsal fin. There also is a bold thick stripe from gill cover to the beginning of the tail, which meets the bottom of the blotch to form a upside down "T." It has a eye that is red on top and on the bottom but black in the center. There is a tear drop shaped black patch just below and behind the eye. It has gold chin squiggles, and the fins are often a rich wine or orange in color. Some specimens have white pearling all over.

This species grows to 6 inches, lives in water from 77-82 degrees at about neutral pH. There are reports that it may be a part time mouth brooder. They are good parents and good community aquarium fish. See "Images of Aequidens diadema for pictures.