Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / May 2004

Just give them a litte time, you'll find out which one is the
strongest and you'll have one. How big are they now?

From what I understand they are very difficult to breed in the
aquarium, just to aggressive. These are some of the meaner South
Americans that I have seen. The'll easily get at least 10" in lenth
and live quite a few years. If they don't eat your plants they'll
uproot them because they like to arrange the gravel their way, not
yours. I can't remember what their ideal ph and water hardness is
right now, but are hardy enough to adapt to about anything.

from recollection Green Terrors can be sexed by the length of the dorsal and
anal fins. Male fins go back almost past the tail fin and are pointed,
whereas the female fins are rounded and end just before or after the start
of the tail fin. You won't be able to sex them by finnage until they are
about 4" (10cm) in length. You could try venting them, but I really don't
much like the idea.

Fantastic fish, I had 5 in a 200l tank around 6/7 years ago and could have
staring fights with the dominant male who didn't like me being in the same
room as the tank.

I had them with a Blue Acara female some Firemouths and some Keyholes (not
an ideal mix I know, but they co-existed fairly happily until spawning, and
I did originally buy what I thought were 6 Blue Acaras) and the alpha male
always spawned with the female Blue Acara. Nothing happened with the fry,
though.

They like soft water with fine gravel, go for around 7° KH/GH and a pH of
around 7,2 and I don't think you'll be too way off. If it helps, mine always
spawned on slate in open water.

Hope this helps!

richi