Green Terror Compatibility

[Remedy944]

Hey guys,
Quick question for you. I have a 75 gallon fish tank. About 4 months ago I purchased a few Pictus Catfish as well as a Green Terror and Blue Jack Dempsey. The Green Terror and JD were about the same size, 2-3 inches. I figured i'd grow them together. First couple months were fine and then shortly after I noticed the GT started getting a little Nippy and chasing around the JD. I had a spare 30 gallon tank I setup to move the JD temporarily and get him fully healthy. So I moved him to the other tank for a month and he was doing good and looking great. I bought some new tank decor earlier this week to provide more hiding spots as I planned to move my JD back. So I put him back in the 75 gallon tank and he swam right in and hung around his new cave. GT didn't even really swim to his side of the tank.

Well, I wake up today and JD is dead next to his cave missing some scales, with GT next to him. So I am really upset with myself for letting his happen. I just don't understand how a 4 inch GT would kill a JD his size, that fast. Shouldn't a 75 Gallon be plenty of room for a young GT and Blue JD to grow together? Not to mention I didn't plan on keeping them in the 75 forever as I am going to move up to a 125 within the next couple months.

My question is, what's my best option to get a new Cichlid? I would consider adding a Convict, Oscar, Jack Dempsey among others. I don't plan on buying a 125 gallon for a single GT. Do I have to go get the 125 gallon immediately before trying to put something else in there or is getting rid of the GT the more viable option? I just can't believe these two couldn't have co-existed that young in a 75 gallon. I see irresponsible people put 3 of these fish in a 30 gallon with better results...I posted a picture below of the little guy, miss him already.

Thanks guys

 

[tlindsey]

Hey guys,
Quick question for you. I have a 75 gallon fish tank. About 4 months ago I purchased a few Pictus Catfish as well as a Green Terror and Blue Jack Dempsey. The Green Terror and JD were about the same size, 2-3 inches. I figured i'd grow them together. First couple months were fine and then shortly after I noticed the GT started getting a little Nippy and chasing around the JD. I had a spare 30 gallon tank I setup to move the JD temporarily and get him fully healthy. So I moved him to the other tank for a month and he was doing good and looking great. I bought some new tank decor earlier this week to provide more hiding spots as I planned to move my JD back. So I put him back in the 75 gallon tank and he swam right in and hung around his new cave. GT didn't even really swim to his side of the tank.

Well, I wake up today and JD is dead next to his cave missing some scales, with GT next to him. So I am really upset with myself for letting his happen. I just don't understand how a 4 inch GT would kill a JD his size, that fast. Shouldn't a 75 Gallon be plenty of room for a young GT and Blue JD to grow together? Not to mention I didn't plan on keeping them in the 75 forever as I am going to move up to a 125 within the next couple months.

My question is, what's my best option to get a new Cichlid? I would consider adding a Convict, Oscar, Jack Dempsey among others. I don't plan on buying a 125 gallon for a single GT. Do I have to go get the 125 gallon immediately before trying to put something else in there or is getting rid of the GT the more viable option? I just can't believe these two couldn't have co-existed that young in a 75 gallon. I see irresponsible people put 3 of these fish in a 30 gallon with better results...I posted a picture below of the little guy, miss him already.

Thanks guys

View attachment 1437064

Welcome aboard

Cichlids will compete for food , hierarchy, and territory so the GT despite the size saw the Jack Dempsey as a threat. The GT has claimed the 75 gallon for itself.

 

[duanes]

Welcome aboard

Cichlids will compete for food , hierarchy, and territory so the GT despite the size saw the Jack Dempsey as a threat. The GT has claimed the 75 gallon for itself.

I agree with this, a GT can easily claim the entire footprint (territory)a 75 for itself (no other cichlids) non-cichlids may not be a problem.
And consider that those E Blue JDs, are generally considered to be non-robust cichlids.
Have a 180 gal, and it started with about 15 young Andinoacara coerleopuncttus (close cousins to GTs) although they don't grow as big.
Within a month the alpha male killed 2 other males (there were still a few less threatening males left and 5 or 6 females. Now about a year later,
a pair spawns and the pair killed all other males except one who lives with his consort on the opposite side of the tank.
So in this size tank (180 gallons) , it seems there are only room enough for 2 males and half dozen females.

Alpha male above, female below.

 

[Remedy944]

I agree with this, a GT can easily claim the entire footprint (territory)a 75 for itself (no other cichlids) non-cichlids may not be a problem.
And consider the those Blue JDs, are generally considered to be non-robust cichlids.
Have a 180 gal, and it started with about 15 young Andinoacara coerleopuncttus (close cousins to GTs) although they don't grow as big.
Within a month the alpha male killed 2 other males (there were still a few less threatening males left and 5 or 6 females. Now about a year later,
a pair spawns and the pair killed all other males exceptionalities one who lives on the opposite side of the tank.
So in this size tank, it seems there are only room enough for 2 males and half dozen females.
View attachment 1437071
Alpha male above, female below.
View attachment 1437072

This is a picture of the bugger right here. He was purchased as a Green Terror but I often hear people talk about lots actually being standard GT's, Royal GT's or close relatives of GT's. Anything about him stick out?

 

[duanes]

All those monikers like Royal GT and the like are commercial hyperbole.
There are 9 different species in the genus Andinoacara, and as youngsters. all Andinoacara look pretty much alike, so the specific traits (that you may be expecting) seen in most photos of adult rivulatus (GTs) have not developed in yours yet, it may take a year or so.
Yours is probably Andinoacara rivulatus, it is the most common and readily available species of the genus found in the hobby along with A pulcher. Most of the other species are much more rare, and have to be ordered from specialty cichlid breeder or importers, they are not commonly found in LFSs.
Mine were wild caught here in Panama...... when I lived in the US, A coeroleopunctatus were seldom available in my area.

 

[tlindsey]

I agree with Duane some lfs will make up names to sell the fish faster or to charge a higher price.

 

[tlindsey]

I agree with Duane some lfs will make up names to sell the fish faster or to charge a higher price.

I remember browsing around in a private owned petstore many yrs ago and saw small Sole or Flounder in a aquarium and the owner told me they were baby Rays lol. I knew better but wonder how many customers were sold those and believed they were true Rays. True story!

 

[duanes]

One other minor detail OP, your substrate is very white, and quite bright, and in some cases that lightly colored substrate hinders some cichlids from showing true colors.
Cichlids instinctively try to match the colors of their surroundings as a defensive mechanism, most natural major cichlid predation comes from birds).
So such white substrate causes their colors too wash out.

 

[Remedy944]

One other minor detail OP, your substrate is very white, and quite bright, and in some cases that lightly colored substrate hinders some cichlids from showing true colors.
Cichlids instinctively try to match the colors of their surroundings as a defensive mechanism, most natural major cichlid predation comes from birds).
So such white substrate causes their colors too wash out.

Thanks for the advice. I will switch up the substrate for the 125 gallon, which I might actually grab this weekend. As far as getting a couple more cichlids, would you guys recommend adding the new cichlids I choose to the 125 after it's established and then adding the GT a little while after? Or is it better to still add them together as the tank will be large enough and no one will have claimed territory at that point?

 

[mr72country]

I have a 75 with a gt. Night time falls and things die. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. Unless you have a deal to re-home failed attempts it might not be reasonable to expect something to work.