need ID aequidens species?

[coltiger1975]

Hi, I just recently picked up three of these guys. My friend has a store and the seller sent them as andinoacara pulcher but these ones clearly are not. I have metae and they are not looking the same at all. I was thinking aequidens tetramerus but not quite sure.

aequidens

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[coltiger1975]

I got three more today in hopes of getting a pair.

 

[coltiger1975]

Here are some photos

 

[coltiger1975]

Sorry does anyone know what these could be? Thanks

 

[duanes]

The problem with accurate ID of many cichlid species, is that from one river to the next, members of a species might look quite different.

Both the wild caught Andinoacara above, and below, are the same species, the 1st shot is an individual from the Mamoni river, the one below is from the Chagres.

Here is another example of divergent cichlids of the same species.

Both the cichlids above are Chuco intermedia, but from separate rivers.

 

[coltiger1975]

From what I can tell these are not metae, I am still leaning towards tetramerus. The eyes show purple which the metae I have do not. Bodies also different too.

 

[neutrino]

Not an expert (though I've had metae from TUIC) and not saying whether it's what you have, but I do know metae, as well as diadema and tetramerus, are widely distributed and can vary in different locations, so I wouldn't trust eye color alone to confirm or eliminate an ID. Aequiedens IDs are tricky, especially from photos, partly because they can look different in different moods, and ime the same fish can look different in different tanks (depending on tank mates, status, etc.). Also, as they stand now they may include undescribed species. For example from an article on tetramerus:

Aequidens tetramerus, Saddle cichlid - Practical Fishkeeping

Aequidens are tricky to identify because there is no recent key to the group and at least half a dozen undescribed species are known, for which there is currently no reliable identification data. The Aqualog South American Cichlids III guide suggests that the species shows some variability in colour across the range.

 

[coltiger1975]

I agree as I am having so much trouble identifying them. I don't think it will be possible to nail it down. The fish were originally in a tank with lots of tetras, barbs, angels etc. They generally stayed hidden in the back which is odd, the group I have are out but they have other cichlids including an andinoacara rivulatus pair. Certainly no push over but not super aggressive. I think I have all males which means I'll need more lol

Thanks for the input, these acaras, ports etc are starting to take over my hobby lol also just got a young pair of ivanacara adoketa which are amazing fish so far.

 

[neutrino]

Certainly no push over but not super aggressive. I think I have all males which means I'll need more lol

Thanks for the input, these acaras, ports etc are starting to take over my hobby lol also just got a young pair of ivanacara adoketa which are amazing fish so far.

Kind of what I found with my (wild) metae, they'd push my geos around but a wild Heros I have didn't like them and pushed them around and nothing serious either way. I like acara types also when they fit what I'm doing, I've had quite a few rivulatus (including wild), some Laetacara, etc., though lately I'm in a so many geos, not enough time/tank space/budget mode lol.

 

[coltiger1975]

I like Geo's as well but not to my acara obsession lol have a geophagus brasiliensis male and a satanoperca leucosticta with a crooked mouth. I've had a couple different red hump species which I'd definitely like to do again.