Aequidens identification

[Jwitho]

A few months back I picked up an Aequidens sp from a wild import labelled as metae
There were a distinct mix of species, and I grabbed what I believed was A.diadema, however as times gone on I’m no longer sure, appreciate any help you could give

 

[MacZ]

The Genus is not a dwarf cichlid, but well, let's try.

I'm torn between A. metae and A. tetramerus.

 

[Jwitho]

The Genus is not a dwarf cichlid, but well, let's try.

I'm torn between A. metae and A. tetramerus.

I know, but worth trying
metae is ruled out, as the lateral spot in continuous and the eye lacks the black diagonal lining
The lack of red throat and darker scales would probably rule out tetramerus
I’m leaning more between superomaculatum or diadema

 

[MacZ]

The lack of red throat and darker scales would probably rule out tetramerus

The fish looks comparatively young, that's why I wouldn't be surprised if it was A. tetramerus after all, but I don't know how they age and at which point the red would appear.

For A. superomaculatum I find the orange around the black spots a bit too strongly pronounced, but that could be the natural variability.

A. diadema is out for the same reason, as all correctly identified A. diadema I've seen lacked that orange completely.

 

[Jwitho]

The fish looks comparatively young, that's why I wouldn't be surprised if it was A. tetramerus after all, but I don't know how they age and at which point the red would appear.

For A. superomaculatum I find the orange around the black spots a bit too strongly pronounced, but that could be the natural variability.

A. diadema is out for the same reason, as all correctly identified A. diadema I've seen lacked that orange completely.

It’s wrong catchment area for tetramerus, so wouldn’t expect that to be the case
The orange flashing isn’t as vibrant as it looks in the photo, but is definitely visible
I have seen confirmed diadema with the orange however, but let’s be honest, the entire genus is an absolute mess when it comes to visually identifying them

 

[MacZ]

You see, I really don't know much about non-dwarfs.

but let’s be honest, the entire genus is an absolute mess when it comes to visually identifying them

I absolutely agree. When looking some species up today I realized the current taxonomic status of the genus is a mess, too.

 

[KenL]

I have no idea, but it is a lovely looking fish.

 

[Jwitho]

I absolutely agree. When looking some species up today I realized the current taxonomic status of the genus is a mess, too.

It’s horrendous, a lot reclassified as andinoacara
A whole lot of sp and sp af
It’s a minefield

 

[MacZ]

Aye!

 

[klclayton]

Pretty sure it's a diadema, there are different catch locations.

 

[Mike Wise]

Does anyone know the catch location?