Green Terror

The green terror is a large acara from the Pacific coast of South America. Its greenish body is decorated with turquoise-shimmering scales and its cheeks with wavy blue–green lines. Mature males develop a prominent hump on the forehead and have a bright orange band along the edge of the dorsal and tail fins; the trade name "gold saum" comes from this.

Similar-looking fish with a white fin edge, known as "white saum", are now recognized as a separate species (Andinoacara stalsbergi). It is a relative of the blue acara (Andinoacara pulcher), but much larger and more aggressive.

It lives in the Pacific-draining rivers of Ecuador and northern Peru, in slow- to moderately flowing waters of the coastal plains. In this region the temperature varies with the season and the water is usually moderately hard.

• Volume: at least 300 liters and 120–150 cm of length for a single adult or a pair.
• Decor: caves built from large rocks and roots, and obstacles that break lines of sight. Plants are uprooted because it digs the sand; decor must be seated firmly.
• Filter: a canister filter turning over 5 times the tank volume per hour; a 30% water change weekly.
• Temperature: 22–26°C is ideal; constantly very warm water shortens its lifespan.

Omnivorous with a big appetite. Use large cichlid granules as the staple; supplement with frozen shrimp, mysis, bloodworms and vegetable-based food. Overfeeding quickly degrades water quality.

Juveniles look somewhat docile; they become territorial and tough as they mature. During breeding it may attack everyone in the same aquarium.

Good companions: robust cichlids of the same size such as the Jack Dempsey, Texas cichlid and severum; large plecos; silver dollars. All in a large aquarium.

Avoid: small, peaceful fish, shrimp, snails, calm Amazon species such as angelfish and discus, planted layouts.

It can be kept alone. To obtain a pair, juveniles are raised together; the bonded pair becomes severely aggressive toward other individuals, and the extras should be removed. In a male–female pair put together later, the male may kill the female; use a perforated divider if necessary.

The pair lays a few hundred eggs on a flat stone it has cleaned. The eggs hatch in 3–4 days and the larvae are moved into pits in the sand. Both parents guard the fry for a long time. The fry are fed baby brine shrimp.

• Hole-in-the-head disease (HLLE): pits, mainly on the head, with dirty water and a monotonous diet.
• Injuries: from fights; prone to secondary bacterial infection.
• Bloating: with excessive and one-sided feeding.

The male is noticeably larger, develops a hump on the forehead and the orange edge on its fins is bright and wide. The female is smaller and paler; the orange edge is faint or absent.