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the animal guy

the animal guy

Arapaima
MFK Member
Aug 23, 2009
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I went to the lfs last month and was asking questions about some Green Terrors on why one in the tank had white trim and the rest were orange.

There was the owner and his friend. His friend spoke up and explained to me that the GTs have trims of White and orange and that the White are more rare than the orange. That's very true to me... Then he also said that only the captives have the colored trims and the ones in the wild from way back do not have any color trims. He said that there are none to be found in the wild anymore.. But the ones from the wild do not have color trims..

Those that have knowledge on this, please input. As for me, I believe what ppl tell me. And he seemed like he knew what he's talking about. I dont think he made it up for anything.

very interesting.

Thanks.
 
Green Terror is a generic name for a few sub species of Aequidens. Their are tons of of fish catagorized as Aequidens. The most common GT"s are- A. Rivulatus this is the "true" green terror and has white trim. A. "SP." Silver Saum is another with white trim. The more comon Gold Trim GT is A. "SP." Gold Saum. If the body shape and body coloration is the same with your white trim GT compared to your Gold Suams - it is a Aequidens "sp." white saum. As for "rarity" the Rivulatus would probably take that prize and commonality would go to the "Gold Saum". It is also very common to see both Gold and White Suams labeled A. Rivulatus. My LFS will lists them as False Green Terrors but still still A.Rivulatus. Finding the true A.Rivalatus will require an experienced reputable fish dealer who is aware of each specific collection points associated with GT's. As for being extinct in the wild - that's a new one on me, all 3 sub species are still collected in completely different wild locations as far as I know.
 
White saums and Orange Saums are regional variants. There is a True GT but is rare in the market.
 
GTbEaSt;4658841; said:
There is a True GT but is rare in the market.
Click to expand...

So how does it look like? Is it true that they have no colored trims like the dude said. He seemed to be educated about it.
 
Otherone the genus Aequedens isn't even used to describe the "green terror" complex any more, and the different varietis are not considered as "subspecies".

Go find a copy of the May 2010 TFH magazine, there is an interesting article by Wayne Leibel called "Those Terrible Green Acaras" which talks about the confusion surrounding the naming of this group of fish. The white and orange edged varients, which have scales with black centres and irridescent green edges (which appear to form horizontal stripes on the body of the fish) are still in need of further classification, it has not yet been determined if they are simply regional varients of the same species or if they deserve to be classified as different species. They have a wide distribution, and the outer limits of it haven't yet even been established, let alone a survey of the populations done to establish how they differ accross the geographic range. The third fish, often referred to as Aequedens rivulatus, or "true green terror" or "wild green terror", which has green in the centre of the scales with black edges (making a reticulate pattern) has recently been described as Andinoacara stalsbergi. And the other "GT varients" should also be considered to be of the genus Andinoacara.
 
David R;4658900; said:
Otherone the genus Aequedens isn't even used to describe the "green terror" complex any more, and the different varietis are not considered as "subspecies".

Go find a copy of the May 2010 TFH magazine, there is an interesting article by Wayne Leibel called "Those Terrible Green Acaras" which talks about the confusion surrounding the naming of this group of fish. The white and orange edged varients, which have scales with black centres and irridescent green edges (which appear to form horizontal stripes on the body of the fish) are still in need of further classification, it has not yet been determined if they are simply regional varients of the same species or if they deserve to be classified as different species. They have a wide distribution, and the outer limits of it haven't yet even been established, let alone a survey of the populations done to establish how they differ accross the geographic range. The third fish, often referred to as Aequedens rivulatus, or "true green terror" or "wild green terror", which has green in the centre of the scales with black edges (making a reticulate pattern) has recently been described as Andinoacara stalsbergi. And the other "GT varients" should also be considered to be of the genus Andinoacara.
Click to expand...

Good stuff - had no idea they re-classed these fish did they also re-class the blue acara into andinoacra and what about the port and flag
 
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