# Green Terror (*Aequidens rivulatus*) Green Terror fish are bright and colorful, showing off beautiful blue and green shades. They are lively and love to swim around their home. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Also known as:** Andinoacara rivulatus, Blue Acara ![Green Terror](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426278/objects/4749.jpg) ## Appearance The Green Terror is a robust cichlid with iridescent metallic green-blue scales that shimmer, especially around its face and flanks. It often has a vibrant orange or red rim on its dorsal and caudal fins, and a striking red eye. Its robust body and prominent lips distinguish it from many other freshwater fish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Teleostei - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Cichlidae - **Genus:** Aequidens ## Interesting facts - Both mom and dad fish take turns caring for their eggs and tiny fry! - Green Terrors guard their babies so fiercely, even larger fish think twice! - Sometimes, Green Terrors will 'spit' water to startle insects off plants! - They use their strong fins to 'walk' along the bottom of rivers! ## Special abilities - **Quick Change Artist:** Green Terror can rapidly change its skin color to blend in with its surroundings or show mood, helping them hide or communicate. - **Digging Dynamo:** Green Terror can dig into the substrate with its mouth to create nests for eggs, which helps keep their babies safe. - **Shell Crusher:** Green Terror has powerful jaws and teeth that help them crush snails and other hard-shelled foods for a tasty meal. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Maximum Depth:** 5 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding Green Terrors enjoy a varied diet, munching on bugs, worms, and even smaller fish! - **Age differences:** null - **Primary Foods:** insects, crustaceans, worms, small fish, plant matter, detritus - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Wolf Fish (*Hoplias malabaricus*) — Larger fish may prey on them. - **Eats:** Mosquito Larva (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Feeds on larvae found in water. - **Eats:** Bladder Snail (*Physella acuta*) — Crushes and consumes freshwater snails. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Green Terror? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Green Terror? 15-30 cm ### How much does Green Terror weigh? 0.2-1 kg ### How long does Green Terror live? 5-8 years ### What does Green Terror eat? Green Terrors enjoy a varied diet, munching on bugs, worms, and even smaller fish! ### How does Green Terror hunt? Foraging ### How deep can Green Terror go? 5 m ### What kind of water does Green Terror live in? Freshwater ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Green Terror: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-terror)