Once colourful large cichlids were so popular that imports from Ecuador were organised mainly because of them. On the pacific side of the country live the “Green Terror”, so the then still Aequidens rivulatus named gold seam cichlids were called, and the “Red Terror”, then Cichlasoma festae, today Mesoheros festae. Both species become easily over 20 cm long (the maximum-size of M. festae lies even with 25 cm), are extremely colorful, but can also distribute neatly.
These times are long past and M. festae has become almost a rarity in the trade. Almost all animals offered under this name are in reality Mayaheros urophthalmus. But Andinoacara rivulatus, as the Green Terror is now called, is still available from time to time; we have now once again got very pretty specimens, they are offspring from Indonesia.
The gold seam cichlid is an open breeder with a biparental family. A leading pair with juveniles is one of the most beautiful sights you can have in an aquarium.
For our customers: the animals have code 610003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
