Cichlid ID

[guireisoliveira]

Hello!
My name is Guilherme, I’m writing from Brazil. I’m new to this forum.

I was hoping if someone could help me identify a fish. I’ve been searching for a Royal Acara (Aequidens diadema) here in São Paulo, but they’re very rare. A local fish store contacted me saying they may have received a wrong fish in a shipment and suspected it could be a juvenile Royal Acara, although they weren’t certain.

I decided to take the fish home, and now that it has grown a bit and is well established, I’m starting to think it may not be A. diadema. Based on its body shape and pattern, I suspect it could be closer to Aequidens tetramerus or a related species.

I’ve attached a short video and some photos for reference. I’d really appreciate your opinion when you have the time

 

[gwand]

Nice looking fish. It has the mid line spot and caudal peduncle spot, albeit faint, like Aequidens diadema. But I’m no expert. Anewbie may have a more intelligent opinion.

 

[guireisoliveira]

Nice looking fish. It has the mid line spot and caudal peduncle spot, albeit faint, like Aequidens diadema. But I’m no expert. Anewbie may have a more intelligent opinion.

He’s very beautiful and peaceful. Even if it isn’t the Diadema I’m really happy with him.
I just worry about the size and his behavior when he gets bigger

 

[Innesfan]

Many of the Aequidens and their close acara cousins in Cichlasoma are easily and often confused. Even the scientists trip up on them and the two genera have been repeatedly revised with individual species floating back and forth between the two genera. Based on your photo, it looks like Cichlasoma bimaculatum, "the Black Acara" to me.

 

[fishorama]

I thought aequdens pulcher (blue acara) because we kept them long ago & loved them! I don't remember exact details anymore. There are many more similar species now so I don't really know what your fish is, but he is a handsome fish even as a subadult. He'll only get prettier as he grows & easier to ID. I'd love to see more pics, a nice trip down memory lane. Thank you!

 

[guireisoliveira]

Many of the Aequidens and their close acara cousins in Cichlasoma are easily and often confused. Even the scientists trip up on them and the twp genera have been repeatedly revised with individual species floating back and forth between the two genera. Based on your photo, it looks like Cichlasoma bimaculatum, "the Black Acara" to me.

Thank you very much for your input! Growth will make identification much easier over time. Cichlasoma bimaculatum is definitely a possibility, and I appreciate you bringing that up.
I’ll keep observing its development and will share updated photos as it grows. I’m also still on the lookout for a true Royal Acara, so this discussion has been really helpful.
Thanks again for sharing your experience!

 

[guireisoliveira]

I thought aequdens pulcher (blue acara) because we kept them long ago & loved them! I don't remember exact details anymore. There are many more similar species now so I don't really know what your fish is, but he is a handsome fish even as a subadult. He'll only get prettier as he grows & easier to ID. I'd love to see more pics, a nice trip down memory lane. Thank you!

I had the same thought about the blue acara too , but I have three electric blue acara in the same tank. When I compared them, I noticed some differences in their eye and mouth shapes, and their behavior is also quite different.
I’m really excited to see how he will grow. I’ve planned to get a bigger tank, and I think he’ll look really cool in it.
I’ll keep sending updates on this little guy

 

[Innesfan]

Definitely not Andinoacara pulcher (alias Aequidens),the 'Blue Acara,' which has among other traits, a color-edged dorsal and distinctive profile in its natural form as you have also noted with your 'electric blue' variants.

BTW, the species you are looking for is now Cichlasoma dimerus. As I mentioned in my earlier post, science has shuffled all of these acaras around quite a bit.

-------------------
Correction: my apologies. I got my d-cichlids mixed up--diadema vs dimerus. The fish you are seeking is indeed named Aequidens diadema. Cichlasoma dimerus (formerly in Aequidens) is another equally beautiful but different acara. Sorry for the confusion.