Hi. I currently have a 4.5-5 in. Gold Saum in a 75g with 7 Buenos Aires tetras. Originally I planned to have 4 electric blue acaras as tank mates. One day, the Saum and two of the acaras turned against one of the other acaras so I decided to move the picked on acara to another tank. The fourth acara wasn't being picked on, but it seemed to keep away from all but the picked on acara so I moved it with the other one. They seem happy. I haven't seen any spawning, but I think I may have wound up with two pair. Shortly thereafter, the two acaras left in the 75 turned on the Saum. I moved them to try another tank. They also seem happy despite being in a smaller tank. I thought about a bichir, but I would definitely have to move the tetras immediately. I've looked online for tankmate recommendations, but it looks like the suggestions aren't for a Gold Saum, but they're for a "true" green terror. I'm thinking I should add two fish in the 4-5 in. range. What are some of your suggestions?
Green Terror (Gold Saum) tank mates
- Thread starter swanzilla
- Start date
For me, and I've had my share of them over the years, they were a versatile fish that worked with a variety of other fish, too many to list, but your best bet is something not closely related or too similar in shape. Heros species are an example, at least for me they got along well.
The "true green terror" thing refuses to die, lol. I could bore you with a long post on it, but even I'm getting tired of explaining it. The short version is it's largely a hobbyist contrived debate, usually among those who don't know the history, are repeating what they've heard, or are influenced by Alf Stalsberg's opinion-- which IS an opinion. He's not a biologist, yet at one time he insisted stalsbergi were rivulatus. He was wrong. As far as the nickname (not the science), either fish can and has been called green terror, the first ones called green terrors in this country were the early rivulatus imported in the 70s.
An even shorter version: Fishbase, the taxonomic database, associates "green terror" to rivulatus, NOT stalsbergi.
rivulatus -- stalsbergi
The "true green terror" thing refuses to die, lol. I could bore you with a long post on it, but even I'm getting tired of explaining it. The short version is it's largely a hobbyist contrived debate, usually among those who don't know the history, are repeating what they've heard, or are influenced by Alf Stalsberg's opinion-- which IS an opinion. He's not a biologist, yet at one time he insisted stalsbergi were rivulatus. He was wrong. As far as the nickname (not the science), either fish can and has been called green terror, the first ones called green terrors in this country were the early rivulatus imported in the 70s.
An even shorter version: Fishbase, the taxonomic database, associates "green terror" to rivulatus, NOT stalsbergi.
rivulatus -- stalsbergi
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Thanks for the clarification. What do you think about maybe a festae and jag? I probably would've already jumped on a festae, but while thinking it over, the guy selling it went from $40, to $60, to $75 over about a 4 day period.
I agree with neutrino that something that doesn't look similar would be the best choice.
To me this means non-cichlids, because all Andinoacara species, like the other cichlids you mention are territorial, and managuense and festae really get too big for a 75gallon just as individuals alone.
You may also note the pH range and other water parameters in the link neutrino posted, and the species it is found with in nature, that would give hints to what might be appropriate tank mates. Although again, a 75 doesn't leave room for much else, seeing as how your Andinoacara is only about half grown.
I keep a shoal of Panamanian Andinoacara coerleopunctatus in a 180 gal, with some large Panamanian tetras (genus Roeboides," somewhat" similar to your Buenos Aires tetras), a goby, and a Panamanian Pleco, and the tank has been successful over a year as is.video below
Panamanian Tank
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To me this means non-cichlids, because all Andinoacara species, like the other cichlids you mention are territorial, and managuense and festae really get too big for a 75gallon just as individuals alone.
You may also note the pH range and other water parameters in the link neutrino posted, and the species it is found with in nature, that would give hints to what might be appropriate tank mates. Although again, a 75 doesn't leave room for much else, seeing as how your Andinoacara is only about half grown.
I keep a shoal of Panamanian Andinoacara coerleopunctatus in a 180 gal, with some large Panamanian tetras (genus Roeboides," somewhat" similar to your Buenos Aires tetras), a goby, and a Panamanian Pleco, and the tank has been successful over a year as is.video below
Panamanian Tank
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I've occasionally seen them with jaguars, the only time it wasn't either an issue or a disaster was a much larger tank including a few other fish of some size. Can't think when I've ever seen them with festae, not something I'd try in anything except a much larger tank than a 75. From what I've seen, or done myself, best bet for other cichlids is for them to be decent sized and not known for their aggression and/or a large tank, just how large depends which fish you're trying to put together. And then it becomes a sometimes it works ,sometimes it doesn't thing.
One exception worked for me in the past (GT with other aggressive fish), was a GT with Malawi haps and peacocks in a busy tank. The GT was a boss fish and helped keep order in such tanks for me. Since then I've become more of a purist-- and I now prefer fewer fish in a tank; makes it harder to envision doing it again, but it did work.
What happens sometimes is a combination might work together for a while as juvies in a lesser tank; it can fool you into thinking everything's fine... until one day attitude kicks in for one or both and it goes south.
One exception worked for me in the past (GT with other aggressive fish), was a GT with Malawi haps and peacocks in a busy tank. The GT was a boss fish and helped keep order in such tanks for me. Since then I've become more of a purist-- and I now prefer fewer fish in a tank; makes it harder to envision doing it again, but it did work.
What happens sometimes is a combination might work together for a while as juvies in a lesser tank; it can fool you into thinking everything's fine... until one day attitude kicks in for one or both and it goes south.