Gold Saum
Andinoacara rivulatus
The Gold Saum (Andinoacara rivulatus) is an aggressive fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 285 litres (75 US gallons), water held at 68-75°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Africa
- Africa
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Gold Saum Tank Setup
Give them at least 285 litres (75 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 68-75°F and a pH around 6.5-7.5. They grow to around 30 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Gold Saums Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Gold Saum Tank Mates
Requires a large tank and good filtration. The Gold Saum is aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Gold Saums Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Gold Saum - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Gold Saums need?
Gold Saums need a tank of at least 285 litres (75 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Gold Saums need?
Keep them at 68-75°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Gold Saums eat?
Gold Saums are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Gold Saums good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Gold Saums to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Gold Saums
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 285 litres (75 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Gold Saums will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Gold Saum against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Gold Saums
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Neon TetraSize risk - Gold Saums will likely eat Neon Tetra at adult size
- Bronze CoryIncompatible temperament or care requirements
- Tiger BarbIncompatible temperament or care requirements
