Green terror

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Green terror

A male Green terror cichlid.

Secure

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Cichlidae
Genus:	Aequidens
Species:	A. rivulatus

Binomial name

Aequidens rivulatus
(Günther, 1860)

The green terror (Aequidens rivulatus) is a colorful freshwater fish in the cichlid family. The fish originate on the Pacific side of South America in the coastal waters from the Tumbes River in Peru to the Esmeraldas River in Ecuador. Males reach lengths of 30 cm (12 in.) and females can, too. However, females stop growing the first time that they spawn and will remain at that length for the rest of their life. Females are sexually mature at around 4.5 in., and therefore that is the smallest length that they can remain at. This causes a misconception that males are larger than females.

As the name implies this species can be very aggressive, especially adult specimens. This is not guaranteed, however, and peaceful individuals are often observed. Juvenile green terrors are often sold in pet shops for the aquarium hobby, as well as fish similar enough to be mistaken for this species (including the blue acara, Aequidens pulcher).

The fish is somewhat deep-bodied with a prominent head. Adult males develop a pronounced forehead hump, a common cichlid trait. Juveniles are tan colored with silver-blue flecks and lack the bright iridescent blue, green, and orange coloration and long, flowing fins of adult specimens.

Green terrors natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.5–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 25.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 20–24 °C (79–86 °F).