Silver saum

Care at a glance

Overview

The silver saum is an aggressive cichlid for the middle of a large tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Caring for the silver saum

A pair of silver saums needs at least 74 gal (280 L). Provide sturdy rockwork, wood and open swimming space, and expect some digging.

Keep the water at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Feed quality pellets and frozen foods.

The silver saum is aggressive, so keep it as a pair, or with equally tough tank mates in a large tank. It is a robust, territorial cichlid that pairs off to breed. Males grow larger than females, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The silver saum, Andinoacara stalsbergi, was described in 2009. White or silver margins on its dorsal and tail fins tell it apart from the green terror, Andinoacara rivulatus. The green terror shows an orange or gold edge instead. The silver saum is also sold as the Peruvian green terror.

In the wild

The silver saum lives in Pacific-slope coastal rivers of western Peru, from Piura south to Ica. Unusually for the genus, it is found in hard, mineral-rich water.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Gold saum

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  11.8 in (30 cm) · 75 gal (285 L)

  11.8 in (30 cm)75 gal (285 L)68–75°F (20–24°C)

• 

  Blue acara

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• 

  Beak peacock

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• 

  Bigeye basketmouth

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• 

  Saddle cichlid

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• 

  Diagramma cichlid

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