IDing Green Terror Gender?

[Sidrock]

Hi guys,

Below are some pictures of a couple of SA Cichlids which I think are Green Terrors (Aequidens sp. "Goldsaum" or Aequidens rivulatus) . They are about 3-3.5 inches in the pictures below.

Questions:

1. The LFS guy selling these called them Blue Acara, but I am pretty sure these are not pure Blue Acara. Are there Green Terror (Aequidens sp. "Goldsaum" or Aequidens rivulatus) X Blue Acara (Aequidens pulcher) hybrids?

2. Is there a way to identify the gender as of now (~3.4 inches) as I think they may be a bit young for the nuchal hump ("kok") on their head?

Thanks,
Sid

PS: Related Profiles:

Aequidens sp. "Goldsaum": http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=502
Aequidens rivulatus: http://www.aquariumslife.com/freshwater-fish/american-cichlid/green-terror-aequidens-rivulatus/
Aequidens pulcher: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=171

 

[k0y0te]

They look to me as Gold Saums. and all males but im not sure of the sex. Just a note not all males get the nuchal hump.

 

[Sarah88]

yeah they are GTs, acaras dont have the ridging at the end of the caudal fin, and i want to say they are males but their body color is quite washed out, thats how my last male looked before he stopped eating and i had to put him down, how is their poo? if its white/stringy i would immediately treat for parasites but with these guys its more often a bacterial infection, make sure you are feeding them a veggie based diet with just a little bit of protein, when i fed my last one peas it seemed to help but when i stopped doing it for a couple weeks he got sick again and quit eating altogether

 

[Sidrock]

yeah they are GTs, acaras dont have the ridging at the end of the caudal fin, and i want to say they are males but their body color is quite washed out, thats how my last male looked before he stopped eating and i had to put him down, how is their poo? if its white/stringy i would immediately treat for parasites but with these guys its more often a bacterial infection, make sure you are feeding them a veggie based diet with just a little bit of protein, when i fed my last one peas it seemed to help but when i stopped doing it for a couple weeks he got sick again and quit eating altogether

Wow, do these guys look ill to you? (They "flair" their fins quite often and play around in the sand. I have not observed their poo yet, I will keep an eye.)

Diet is mainly Hikari Cichlid Gold and Cichlid Excel with occasionally (live) Blood worms and shredded (fresh) shrimp.

Thanks for confirming these are GT and not Acaras and also that they are both male.

Regards,
Sid

 

[GTbEaSt]

vent them, only sure way. Just net them and turn them over and look.

 

[FishingOut]

Wow, do these guys look ill to you? (They "flair" their fins quite often and play around in the sand. I have not observed their poo yet, I will keep an eye.)

Diet is mainly Hikari Cichlid Gold and Cichlid Excel with occasionally (live) Blood worms and shredded (fresh) shrimp.

Thanks for confirming these are GT and not Acaras and also that they are both male.

Regards,
Sid

They seem a bit pale. Could be the flash though.
Good diet, A bit rich for a young GT though. Really try and keep the protein down until he starts getting large. Gt's are notorious for getting internal digestive problems. Id say this kills more than 50% of GT's between 1-5". After that they seem more tolerant and thats when he will start growing the hump on his head.

4 times a week make sure to soak his food in garlic, no less than 25% WC every week. And a good variety of vegatibles like skinned peas will keep his digestion in check. IME, I have had discus that were easier to care for than GT's. Without the proper diet when young like yours, and good condiitons they will parish from internal problems. Good luck with the little guys. Ohh btw its 2 males.