Breeding Green Terrors

[jakezori]

I finally got my 90 set up and I have chosen to breed green terrors in it. Before getting them however I'd like advice =).


What food do you all suggest? What flake, live, and pellet?

Can any other fish be in the 90 gallon with 1 male and 1 female green terror? If so, what fish?

Are there any low light, low maintenance plants they wont gobble up?

If I get a male and a female when they are both around 5" how likely is it that they will breed within 6 months?

What temperatures and water levels are good for them to breed in? The water where I live is very hard and alkaline, which I obviously know is not what they like, but how much should I screw with the water chemistry and what should I use to do so? RO and water softener?

I'd love some tips on breeding them if you have any.

 

[TrikkyMakk]

Chances are you will only be able to keep the GTs and some dithers. I have seen a single GT chase and beat down fish and when the magic is in the air you can bet no one will be left alone.

As far as food, just get hikari gold and give frozen cubes as a treat once in a while. I buy the variety pack so they arent eating the same thing all the time.

Also keep in mind that once the female breeds she won't grow anymore so you want to wait until she is big before introducing a male.

 

[jakezori]

Also keep in mind that once the female breeds she won't grow anymore so you want to wait until she is big before introducing a male.

I've never heard that before =p. Are you sure? I know they are a lot easier to breed when they are younger, so thats why I am getting them at 5". If the male gets substantially bigger than the female, I will sell the female and just make the tank into a SA cichlid tank =)

Thanks for your help.

What about plants?

 

[dogofwar]

I'd get a group of 4 small ones (two suspected males and two suspected females) @ about 2-3" and let them pair off on their own. Trying to introduce 5" fish will be more problematic.

They'll breed at 2-3" size. When they do, I'd remove the other pair (although a 90 is probably big enough for both.)

If the goal is to breed them, then I wouldn't put any other fish in the tank.

Also, make sure the tank is set up so that the babies won't get sucked into the filter or under an UGF plate, etc.

Flakes and pellets are adequate for condition although some (live) red worms, mealworms, superworms, etc. can't hurt.

 

[TrikkyMakk]

I've never heard that before =p. Are you sure? I know they are a lot easier to breed when they are younger, so thats why I am getting them at 5". If the male gets substantially bigger than the female, I will sell the female and just make the tank into a SA cichlid tank =)

Thanks for your help.

What about plants?

A lot of cichlids (females) slow to almost no growth at all once they breed for the first time. GTs are one of them.

And GTs love to rip up plants so go plastic if you want plants.

 

[jakezori]

Aren't there ANY plants that I could get?

 

[GTS]

Aren't there ANY plants that I could get?

Something like java moss or some anubias sp would work. You would need at least 1" of good plant friendly substrate and decent lighting (you do not need any of those pricey plant light bulbs for the plants I mentioned) you still run the risk that the green terrors could rip them up.

Somebody suggested that you start with four fish, this is good advice. If they are in the 5" to 7" range you could leave all four fish in there even with one pair spawning. Your buying green terror's from a LFS right? Then you will be breeding one of the suams, when it comes to the suams personality "green terror" is a misnomer.

They are still great fish though, I doubt you will have any problems breeding them.


P.S.

The growth rate of female cichlids can indeed be slowed if they spawn very often. You can offset this by feeding frozen/live foods. Shrimp, krill, bloodworms cubes, earthworms, blackworms, crickets, feeders etc..

 

[jakezori]

So, your suggesting I get 4 green terrors and leave them all in there even when one pair spawns? Could I get 2 green terrors now, and then 2 later?

 

[GTS]

So, your suggesting I get 4 green terrors and leave them all in there even when one pair spawns? Could I get 2 green terrors now, and then 2 later?

Getting four would give you a better chance of getting a staple pair. If you were to get four we are not suggesting that you must leave all four fish in the tank when one pair spawns, we are only saying that you likely could leave all four fish in together.

You dont have to get four fish, you could get a male and a female and put them together. But it might be harder to form a staple pair. Cichlids tend to form stronger pair bonds when they have other fish to compete with.

 

[jakezori]

2 questions:

what if i got 2 green terros (male, female) and 2 jakc dempsys (male, female)

or

4 green terrors and when 1 set spawned sold the other set

???