Green Terror (Andinoacara rivulatus)

Green Terror Andinoacara rivulatus
Name	Green Terror
Name Lat.	Andinoacara rivulatus
Synonym	Aequidens rivulatus
Family	Cichlids
Family lat.	Cichlidae
Order	Cichlids
Order lat.	Cichliformes
Origin	Ecuador, Peru
Habitat	Rivers, streams
Diet	Carnivore
pH	6.5-7.5
Behavior	Territorial
Keeping	Pair
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Substrate spawner
Breeding	Moderately difficult
Life Span	7-10 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	15-20 cm
Temperature	20-24 °C
Hardness	4-10 °dH
Aquarium	~ 350 l
US Units
Size	6"-8"
Temperature	68-75 °F
Hardness	71-178 ppm
Aquarium	~ 90 gal

Distribution and habitat

The range of the golden fringed cichlids is the Tumbes River system in northern Peru and nearshore waters in Ecuador. They live in rivers and streams, oxbow lakes and floodplains with mostly dense riparian vegetation and roots and branches protruding into the water.

Maintenance

The aquarium should have a robust border planting, with many hiding places (stones, roots), and offer free swimming space. A substrate of sand or fine gravel covered with some foliage (e.g. sea almond leaves) and slightly subdued light (floating plants) is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite must be detectable, the nitrate value must not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

In the wild they feed mainly on small crustaceans, insect larvae and plankton. The food supply consists of live, frozen and dry food. For a balanced diet, feed once a day with a high-quality dry food for cichlids (flakes, granules, pellets) as well as daphnia, artemia, mysis, tubifex and mosquito larvae (live or frozen)

Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance

Behaviour and compatibility

They should be kept in pairs. At spawning time they behave very territorial, therefore keeping several pairs is only recommended in a larger and richly structured tank. They can be well socialized with other not too small fish.

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water quality and water temperature may be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

Adult males are larger and have a forehead hump. The females are less intensely colored.

Reproduction and breeding

They spawn on shallow stones or roots (substrate spawners). Predominantly the female performs the brood care while the male defends the territory. After 2-3 days the fry hatch and are housed in a trough and swim free after about 5 days. The fry are guarded by the parents for some time and are led to the feeding places in the aquarium before the brood care ends.

Fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food. Breeding is hardly possible in community tanks, where the fry are easy prey.

Important

There are specimens that have an orange, red, yellow or white fin fringe. They can be found together in nature in the same biotope.

They like to burrow, but often damage the roots of plants, so it is recommended to use potted plants.

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even if the pollutant level has not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); RIEHL & BAENSCH (2006): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF