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No federal permit to keep

Saddle cichlid

Aequidens tetramerus

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The saddle cichlid (Aequidens tetramerus) is a species of cichlid from the tribe Cichlasomatini, part of the subfamily Cichlasomatinae from South America.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Intermediate

FamilyCichlids

Record lifespan7 years

Adult lengthup to 7.6 in

WaterFreshwater

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

Tank: At least 36 in long and 15 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 7.6 in / 19.2 cm).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 75–79°F (range recorded for this species).
pH: 4.9–7.5.
Hardness: 1–13.5 dGH.
Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 75–81 °F, pH 4.5–7.5, 1–20 dGH.
Behaviour: temperament territorial.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “Ideally a soft, sandy substrate should be employed though it is not essential.”
Diet: “Omnivorous but the diet of wild specimens is apparently dominated by invertebrates.”
Tankmates: “Males are territorial, particularly when spawning, while very small tankmates may be predated upon.”
Breeding: “Biparental substrate spawner and relatively simple to breed.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Central and South American cichlids

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rivers and lakes of the Americas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Size ranges widely, from convicts at 5 in to Parachromis over 20 in; plan tank size for the adult fish.
Most tolerate neutral, moderately hard water; strong filtration and rock or wood caves.

Sources 117 119 164

Climate & lighting

Water

75–82°F

Sources 117 119 164

Diet

Omnivorous cichlid pellets plus vegetables for herbivores (Vieja, Uaru) and meaty foods for predators (Parachromis).

Sources 117 119 164

Social life

Territorial; breeding pairs can clear a whole tank.

Sources 117 119 164

Health watch

Aggression and territorial injuries, especially when breeding; hole-in-the-head in poor water.

Sources 117 119 164

Understanding the animal

About this animal

It is the type species of the genus Aequidens. It is reasonably common in the aquarium trade.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Saddle cichlid” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. 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.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 75–79 °F (24–26 °C), pH 4.9–7.5, hardness 1–13.5 dH.
Climate	Tropical climate.
Wild diet	Hunting macrofauna (predator).
Behavior to plan for	Breeding: clutch tenders, biparental parental care.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 75–79 °F.
Parents guard eggs or young, so expect territorial behavior when breeding.

FishBase species summary: Aequidens tetramerus

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 90°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 69°F (down to 66°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	77–81°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	77–84% on average (driest month about 72%)
Rainfall	about 2610 mm a year

Measured at 86 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The saddle cichlid (Aequidens tetramerus) is a species of cichlid from the tribe Cichlasomatini, part of the subfamily Cichlasomatinae from South America. It is the type species of the genus Aequidens. It is reasonably common in the aquarium trade. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase
Reproduction	Produces a minimum of 1000 eggs. — FishBase
Appearance and size	The saddle cichlid shows significant variation in colour and thus variation is geographic. In the western parts of its range, in Ecuador and Peru they develop striking red or orange colouration on the lower jaw, the head and the forward portion of the belly while Brazilian specimens are more of an overall grey or blue or green colouration. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Biology	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. — FishBase
History and naming	This species is the type species of the genus Aequidens but many authorities have hypothesised that as currently recognised this taxon is probably a group of related fish species instead of a single taxonand that some of the distinct populations may be described as distinct species once detailed analysis is performed. — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Maximum recorded lifespan

Reported7years

FishBase 1647

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter.

Typical adult weight

Reported5.5oz

FishBase 1645.5

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Adult length

Average of sources7in

FishBase 1647.6

Seriously Fish species profiles 1676.4

Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Average of sources75–80°F

FishBase 16475–79

Seriously Fish species profiles 16775–81

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Average of sources4.7–7.5

FishBase 1644.9–7.5

Seriously Fish species profiles 1674.5–7.5

Water hardness

Average of sources1–16.8dGH

FishBase 1641–13.5

Seriously Fish species profiles 1671–20

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=commercial; captive longevity record)

Sources for this sheet

FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.