Green terror or blue acara

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Carter020108

Polypterus
MFK Member
Dec 10, 2018
621
325
87
Hi, could someone tell me if my fish is a blue acara or gold saum green terror thank you20190620_120420.jpg20190620_120419.jpg20190517_153612.jpg20190620_120420.jpg20190620_120420.jpg20190620_120420.jpg20190620_120419.jpg20190517_153612.jpg
 
Your photos are not very clear, but even more problematic is, when young
almost all species of Andinoacara look very similar, and the the distinguishable traits don't start showing up until more maturity sets in, yours looks quite young yet, and may be female (females even look more alike between species).
The Blue Acara is Andinoacara pulcher.
The GT is Andinoacara rivulatus or sometimes A stalsberg i.
And there are at least 6 other Andinoacara species that look somewhat similar.
This is one of the problems in using common names like Green Terror, in theory any of the above could be legitimately be called green terrors.
And if you got it from some big box pet store, expecting them to beep on species difference is quite the stretch.
Its like the "red Terror" dime, there are at least 2 different species called red terrors , Mayaheros uropthalmus and Mesoheros festae, I've seen some semi-knowledgable aquarists confused as to what is what, and I believe Andinoacara are even less obvious.
I keep Andinoacara coeruleopuntatus the "Panamanian Green Terror"
fullsizeoutput_1562.jpeg
Even individual to individual there are subtle differences, but hardly earth shatteringly dramatic, female above, male below.
fullsizeoutput_fe3.jpeg
fullsizeoutput_14c4.jpeg.
 
Last edited:
Actually, looking at the scales, that's a good question. Wish the photos were clearer and the tail visible, but rivulatus have dark centers on light scales, creating horizontal rows. Yours looks to have dark edged fins, which wouldn't be rivulatus. Could be blue acara or something else. Stalsbergi is another similar looking species and has dark edged fins, though stalsbergi are not very common.
 
Last edited:
Actually, looking at the scales, that's a good question. Wish the photos were clearer and the tail visible, but rivulatus have dark centers on light scales, creating horizontal rows. Yours looks to have dark edged fins, which wouldn't be rivulatus. Could be blue acara or something else. Stalsbergi is another similar looking species and has dark edged fins, though stalsbergi are not very common.

Stalsbergi got a white/silverish soum instead of the orange that rivulatus gots. Ive kept both species. Bought them both from an petco like store here in sweden when small and could hardly see any diffrence until they started to grow and color up.
 
Stalsbergi got a white/silverish soum instead of the orange that rivulatus gots. Ive kept both species. Bought them both from an petco like store here in sweden when small and could hardly see any diffrence until they started to grow and color up.
Rivulatus can have either white or orange edged fins. The scale pattern is the clearer distinction.
 
Rivulatus can have either white or orange edged fins. The scale pattern is the clearer distinction.

Ahh that was a new one for me. Didnt know that:) yeah the one i did id as stalsbergi did have a diffrent scale pattern from the rivulatus i had:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: neutrino
Actually, looking at the scales, that's a good question. Wish the photos were clearer and the tail visible, but rivulatus have dark centers on light scales, creating horizontal rows. Yours looks to have dark edged fins, which wouldn't be rivulatus. Could be blue acara or something else. Stalsbergi is another similar looking species and has dark edged fins, though stalsbergi are not very common.
+1 that’s why I mentioned it may not be a green terror in his other thread.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com