Freshwater
Saddle cichlid
Aequidens tetramerus
Cichlidae, Cichlinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 19.2 cm
- Body shape
- Streamlined
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 176 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Swims
- Missing
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Water values
Smallest tank
176 liters116 × 39 × 39 cm · For one fish
Worked out from its length, as we don’t yet know what size tank it should have. Do you? Sign up and tell us in the app.
Try other measures in the appNative
Lives wild in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and 1 more country.
Videos
Exploring the Crystal-Clear Waters of Rio Cristalino | Incredible Fish of Brazil.
CHRIS LUKHAUPOct 4, 2026
More about the species
About the species
One of the most colorful species of the genus, especially during its reproductive period. Frequently occurs in zones with little current and over a substrate covered with vegetal debris. Caught frequently but not abundantly in most varied biotopes- in small creeks and flooded zones with clear, shallow and slow flowing water. Feeds primarily on insects, secondarily on fishes and plants. Very territorial. During reproduction, males attain a deeper coloration. About 1,000 eggs are released during spawning. Spawning takes place on stone or wood. Parents take care of juveniles. Maximum length 25 cm TL.
Source: FishBase
Other names
Other scientific names
- Acara tetramerus
- Acaronia trimaculata
- Aequidens stollei
- Chromys uniocellata
In other languages
- Sadelciklide
- Saddelcichlide
- Satulakirjoahven
- Saddleback acara
Articles
All articles
How to set up a South American aquarium4 min read
Soft, acidic water, subdued light, sand, roots and fallen leaves: how to set up a biotope aquarium from the Amazon and the rivers around it.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
Ich (white spot)4 min read
The most common disease in aquarium fish. How to recognize it, why it shows up, and how to get rid of it.