At certain times of year, because my tank is outside, and gets a lot of falling leaf litter, tannins concentrate, like the photos below, and the Andinoacara seem to take on more red hues, as the water tints the color of tea.
How to color up green terror
- Thread starter Carter020108
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I've always found dark substrate and dark background makes a massive difference on any fish's colour. More intense/vibrant. Black background and black sand for me for that reason.
I've also seemingly found cichlid gold pellets have a positive impact - but I'm sure any good quality food does.
I've also seemingly found cichlid gold pellets have a positive impact - but I'm sure any good quality food does.
I would be amazed if that fish turns out to be male. Has female wrote all over it to my eyes.This is what I was thinking too, but the pictures aren’t the best for trying to verify gender. The white on the dorsal rays and haziness just makes me think female.
Is he a proven male?
I’ve seen the best color from mine when there is driftwood in the tank. One tank in particular that gets colored from tannins really makes their colors pop.
And like
Totally agree about bogwood and tannins, especially with a black back ground, really compliments rivulatus well.
Most fish will darken at night as protection from predators.
It makes them harder to be seen at night if they are a darker color.
Both of them are still young but by their shapes female left and male on the right.
Agree on both counts.
Males usually have extended fin tips on the dorsal and anal fins that come to a point, like the male Andinoacara coerleopunctatus below. (very close cousin to GTs)
Notice how they extend almost beyond the caudal.
above a female, notice the tips only get about halfway to the middle of the caudal.
I have had the two above are at least 3 years, so the gender differences are obvious.
Another help are the blue spots and marking in the fins, yours are too young to have developed yet.
Below an immature fry of the pair above, no fin spots, and it has rounded edges on fins, so absolutely no way to tell if the fish is male or female at this point.
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Above shows what I mean about the iridescent markings in the fins, a male above.
Note how they become linear at the upper areas in the dorsal.
Below a female, more transparent on the upper dorsal, with only small spots near the body are apparent
Some of these traits are even more pronounced in GTs.
Below an excellent thread by MrsE88 for info you are asking about
New addition- gt grow out thread.
