Gold saum
Andinoacara rivulatus
Also known as Green terror
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–75°F
- 20–24°C
- pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 75 gal
- 285 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Peru, Ecuador
Overview
The gold saum, better known as the green terror, is a large cichlid that turns aggressive once it matures. It swims in the middle of the tank and is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
Green terrors come in two color forms, each named for the trim on its fins. The gold saum has a broad gold to orange band along the edge of the tail and dorsal fin. The closely related silver saum wears a white edge instead, and shops often confuse the two.
Caring for the gold saum
Give a gold saum at least 75 gal (285 L), and more if you plan to keep more than one. Lay a sandy floor and arrange sturdy rocks and driftwood to split the tank into territories with retreat lines. Leave open water in the middle, since it is an active swimmer.
Keep the temperature at 68 to 75°F (20 to 24°C), since that matters for its long-term health. It is not fussy about chemistry and does well at a pH of 6.5 to 8.0, in neutral to hard water. It is an omnivore that readily takes a quality cichlid pellet. Add frozen and live foods such as prawn, mussel and earthworm.
Keep it as a single bonded pair, or with other robust cichlids and large tank mates. A lone fish or a spawning pair defends a big territory and can be relentless toward weaker fish. Choose companions of similar size and temper, with enough room that no one is cornered.
Males grow larger than females and often develop a raised forehead. It is a substrate spawner that lays its eggs on a cleaned rock or flat surface. Both parents guard the eggs and fry with great determination.
Good to know
Andinoacara rivulatus is a member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae. Its bright color comes with a strong temper, which is why the common name green terror has stuck.
In the wild
The green terror comes from the Pacific slope of South America. It lives in coastal rivers from the Tumbes drainage in Peru to the Esmeraldas in Ecuador. These waters run cooler than most tropical rivers.
Common questions
What size tank does a gold saum need?
A gold saum needs at least 75 gal (285 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a gold saum need?
A gold saum is comfortable at 68–75°F (20–24°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.
What does a gold saum eat?
A gold saum is an omnivore that readily takes a quality cichlid pellet. Add frozen and live foods such as prawn, mussel and earthworm.
How big does a gold saum get?
An adult gold saum reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
How can you tell a male gold saum from a female?
Males grow larger than females and often develop a raised forehead.
How does a gold saum breed?
Gold saums are substrate spawners that lay their eggs on a cleaned rock or flat surface. Both parents guard the eggs and fry with great determination.
Related species
7.9 in (20 cm)74 gal (280 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Silver saum
Andinoacara stalsbergi
7.9 in (20 cm) · 74 gal (280 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)42 gal (160 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Blue acara
Andinoacara pulcher
5.9 in (15 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Heterotaenia hap
Buccochromis heterotaenia
11.8 in (30 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Kiwinge hap
Dimidiochromis kiwinge
11.8 in (30 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Malawi hawk cichlid
Aristochromis christyi
11.8 in (30 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)201 gal (760 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)Mayan cichlid
Mayaheros urophthalmus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 201 gal (760 L)