Can this work? How aggressive are GT's, really?

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CTU2fan

Feeder Fish
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Mar 12, 2007
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Port Orange, FL
Tankmates will be the fish in my sig, tank is a 170G.

I've never kept a GT, I've only ever seen tiny ones and I just never really considered them. But I was in a shop tonight (chain store) and they had some GT's, small ones, but not babies...maybe 4" or so. They were showing color and WOW awesome looking fish. But as you can see most of my fish are peaceful. So I'm wondering if one of these GT's could work, or if it's a definite "no go". The shop had them in a tank with smaller polleni and severums, and there didn't seem to be any damage or chasing among any of the fish.

I'm just wondering if they often turn into murderers when they get big, or if I've got a better than even chance of it working. All my current fish are bigger than the GT, and I've got unclaimed territory (rock caves etc) in the tank. Worst case I've got a spare tank I could set up if it didn't work, but that's a last resort; if it's likely to be a disaster I'll skip the GT.
 
gts are really one of those fish that differ some peaceful and some aggressive. since its smaller then the other fish it would be fine now. just let it grow and catch up in size and see how he acts. as hes growing up with the larger fish he may end up being just fine but you would just have to wait and see.
 
It could work for u!!!

Im my experience with them I havent seen them kill a fish but I had one that he made sure everyone knew it was his tank.

Always remember it all depends on that one fish tho!!!
 
cichlid fiend;3858134; said:
It could work for u!!!

Im my experience with them I havent seen them kill a fish but I had one that he made sure everyone knew it was his tank.

Always remember it all depends on that one fish tho!!!
Click to expand...

Indeed, I have had examples of both types of behaviour but my current one is MEAN.
 
your festivums and eartheaters may suffer its wrath. but like Fishguts said, they vary so much in temperament that its hard to say. ive only ever had good tempered males but ive read some horror stories too. i kept my first one with 1.5" uaru A. when it was 6".

depending how large your other cichlids are then it could be the GT that suffers as juvie GT's dont have it in them to fight back until they hit about 4". they tend to stop eating if they are bullied too much.
 
Well, at the moment my gt is about 3 or 4 inches, and she is AGGRESSIVE, i mean shes that aggressive if you go near the tank you can almost hear her head butting it lol.. but i guess she did just lay eggs... This is only speaking from me owning 1 gt so, some might be peaceful.. but yea...
 
Well, these looked like males, judging from pics I've seen. I don't think my stock will bully it; I've added some pretty small fish with zero issues, including the JD which I added at maybe 3" (before the jurupari, but the severums were already grown adults).

I'm thinking I'll try it, and if I do get a mean one I can separate accordingly, as long as it's got a chance of being OK.
 
CTU2fan;3857879; said:
Tankmates will be the fish in my sig, tank is a 170G.

I've never kept a GT, I've only ever seen tiny ones and I just never really considered them. But I was in a shop tonight (chain store) and they had some GT's, small ones, but not babies...maybe 4" or so. They were showing color and WOW awesome looking fish. But as you can see most of my fish are peaceful. So I'm wondering if one of these GT's could work, or if it's a definite "no go". The shop had them in a tank with smaller polleni and severums, and there didn't seem to be any damage or chasing among any of the fish.

I'm just wondering if they often turn into murderers when they get big, or if I've got a better than even chance of it working. All my current fish are bigger than the GT, and I've got unclaimed territory (rock caves etc) in the tank. Worst case I've got a spare tank I could set up if it didn't work, but that's a last resort; if it's likely to be a disaster I'll skip the GT.
Click to expand...

Mine wasn't aggressive at the store either. He was in a tank with some small african cichlids. Once they are comfortable and 100% healthy, they will destry your other more docile fish. That's why I keep mine iwth bottom dwellers or small fish that are too big to be eaten (giant danios). I don't recommend it, unless you sell all your fish and make it for a GT only.
 
I have a GT which until recently was very mild. However he is now about 7" and took a sudden disliking to one of my blue acara and gave him a real beating. The thing is I have another blue acara which he has not looked at twice.
He is also currently with a gold severum, a firemouth, two port acara and two oscars and a baby jag who are all fine.

I setup my new 240 litre this weekend so the smaller fish will be coming out ready for the jag to become king. I've had a canister filter maturing on the main tank for a month or so to speed thing up.
 
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