Green terror
Andinoacara rivulatus · also called Green terror cichlid, Gold saum, Silver saum, Aequidens rivulatus, Andinoacara rivulatus
A dazzling South American cichlid shimmering with metallic blue-green scales and an iridescent face mask; mature males develop a fatty nuchal hump. The name fits — they are beautiful but genuinely feisty, suiting keepers ready for a large, territorial centerpiece fish.
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Quick facts
| Size | Males to about 8-12 in (20-30 cm); females smaller, around 6-7 in (15-18 cm). |
| Lifespan | 7–10 years |
| Social needs | pair |
| Native region | South America (Pacific-slope rivers of Ecuador and Peru) |
| Origin | New World |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Water type | 💧 Freshwater |
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Genus | Andinoacara |
Part of the Cichlids
Cichlids are a large, behaviorally complex family of freshwater fish prized for color, intelligence, and elaborate parental care. They range from peaceful dwarfs to highly territorial Rift Lake and Central American species, and most demand stable water chemistry and thoughtful tankmate selection.
Habitat & space requirements
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
representativeGold saum →
Trade form showing an orange-to-gold edging ('saum') on the dorsal and tail fins; often the strain seen in the hobby.
representativeSilver / white saum →
Form with a white-to-silver fin margin rather than orange; associated with the true Andinoacara rivulatus from Ecuador.
representativeWild-type (silver saum) →
A metallic blue-green body speckled with electric scales; the wild Pacific-drainage form edges its fins in a white-to-silver band (the 'silver saum').
Tip: A genuinely territorial fish that grows large and digs — give a long tank, robust filtration, and tankmates too big to swallow but not rivals for territory.
representativeGold saum / Orange-edge →
A geographic/line form (often traded as the true green terror) whose dorsal and tail fins are rimmed with a bright orange-red band instead of white.
Tip: Same demanding temperament as the silver form; the orange edging intensifies with age, good color, and a varied carotenoid-rich diet.
representativeElectric blue / Neon →
A selectively-bred line that floods the whole body with intense turquoise-blue, reducing the dark facial striping for a near-uniform glowing look.
Tip: Just as territorial as standard green terrors despite the showy color — don't let the looks tempt you into a peaceful community tank.
representativeAlbino / Gold →
An amelanistic strain showing a pale gold-to-white body with red eyes, with the fin band and facial speckling reduced to soft pastel tones.
Tip: Provide shaded areas for the light-sensitive red eyes; aggression and adult size are unchanged from the wild-type, so plan tank space accordingly.
Habitat & enclosure
Substrate
Equipment & setup
Diet
Behavior & temperament
Health
Tips, DIY & hacks
Sources
- Green terror — Wikipedia (wikipedia)
- Andinoacara rivulatus (Green Terror) — Seriously Fish (care guide)
- Wikipedia: Green terror (wiki)