Green Terrors??

Question

I did want a pair of convicts to go in my aquarium, but now ive heard what a nightmare they can be to get rid of the fry! I have come across another fish thats i would really like as a pair - Green Terrors, Does anyone know anything about these, and if and when they breed how difficult is it to sell or give the fry away? I would like a breeding pair as I would love to see the behaviour of cichlids when they have their young!!

Answer 1

Green terrors are not hard to breed at all and would be far easier to sell or trade than convit fry certainly. They need a bit more space than convists of course, but a huge tank isn't needed either. They are good parents and you'll enjoy seeing them with their young, "herding" them around the tank for food. I would suggest you give them a try and once you can't get rid of more young (any ,market will eventually become saturated) trade your breeding pair for another type of cichlid and go for it again!

Here's all the info you should need to get started, but if you have any other questions feel free to email me.

http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/freshwater/cichlids/greenterror.html

Hope that helps

MM

Answer 2

It's pretty awesome watching the mama and papa protect their babies. Convicts are kind of like the bunny rabbits of cichlids. While green terrors will now likely produce as quickly as the convicts I don't know how easily you'll be able to sell the fry.

Problem is the fry are fairly tiny unless you plan on holding onto them for 6 plus months they'll be smaller than the cichlids most stores carry. No biggie but you need to visit your local fish store and ask if they'd be willing to buy, take or trade for your fry. The answer may or may not be no .

Also to most likely guarantee and male and female in your tank you need to get at least 6 juveniles. So this means if you want to keep them you'll need a 75 or 125 probably (this is on the large side but because you want fry you'll want to provide a little extra space).

These guys are excellent parents it always amazes me! :)

Answer 3

I have bred both convicts and green terrors, with some success..

The problem with green terrors is getting a pair, once you have done this it is easy to get them to breed.

The problem with getting a pair is threefold..

Firstly GT's are often sold under a variety of names, and often fish sold as GTs are not.

GTs..aquadens rivulatus look very similar to two other aquadens species, the more common being the blue acara (A. pulcher).. and all three can interbreed and are often imported from the far east as Golden Saum.. which is a generic name for all three (and the crosses)... so be very careful that you know what you are buying

Second problem is sexing as this is pretty much impossible until they hit 6inches plus when the males get a nauchal hump.

The third issue in managing aggression as they grow..

IF i were you I would be thinking 6 juveniles at least in a minimum 4ft tank... leave them until they pair off and then sell on all but the pair..

They will breed quite readily then..

In the mean time breed your convicts and keep hold of the babies coz your terrors will like a bit of live food once in a while and it saves buying tetras...

Answer 4

If your tank is 75 liters I think it is to small for green terrors as they get quite large.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2437

Answer 5

Ask Lyndsey, she knows loads about fish.