Green terror in a 55? Opinions? Thoughts?

[NotReallyCatfishGuy]

I'm planning to have my first monster fish be a green terror, not just because of the look, but because of the size and sometimes ruthlessness.

the only problem is that the biggest aquarium I'm able to obtain without over a year of saving and working (chores and stuff, not child labor) is a 55, and it's like a hand-me-down from a friend because his grandma isn't interested in the hobby anymore. All I need to buy is some cheap LED lights, a good filter, and a heater. oh and maybe a lid. the $86 I have left from very generous grandparents giving me money for my birthday would be enough for that but nothing better than a 10 gallon kit at petco.

anyways, I've gotten mixed reviews saying that a green terror would be okay in a 55 it's whole life as long as you control the water parameters, filtration, and possibly jumping? I've also heard from others that a green terror would be absolutely SUFFERING in an aquarium any bit less than a 75.

I did hear the 75 thing from this snobby rich guy that thought he was all high and mighty, forgetting that others can't afford to buy and maintain as many tanks as him, he calls 60s small!

I have heard that a 55 is okay from many sources, more sources than the ones in the side of 75 minimum, but I want to know what everyone here thinks, since this is mfk I'm guessing the people on here would help me out the most with this.

Sorry for that mess of words, just got a lot to type.

Thank you in advance!

 

[tlindsey]

I'm planning to have my first monster fish be a green terror, not just because of the look, but because of the size and sometimes ruthlessness.

the only problem is that the biggest aquarium I'm able to obtain without over a year of saving and working (chores and stuff, not child labor) is a 55, and it's like a hand-me-down from a friend because his grandma isn't interested in the hobby anymore. All I need to buy is some cheap LED lights, a good filter, and a heater. oh and maybe a lid. the $86 I have left from very generous grandparents giving me money for my birthday would be enough for that but nothing better than a 10 gallon kit at petco.

anyways, I've gotten mixed reviews saying that a green terror would be okay in a 55 it's whole life as long as you control the water parameters, filtration, and possibly jumping? I've also heard from others that a green terror would be absolutely SUFFERING in an aquarium any bit less than a 75.

I did hear the 75 thing from this snobby rich guy that thought he was all high and mighty, forgetting that others can't afford to buy and maintain as many tanks as him, he calls 60s small!

I have heard that a 55 is okay from many sources, more sources than the ones in the side of 75 minimum, but I want to know what everyone here thinks, since this is mfk I'm guessing the people on here would help me out the most with this.

Sorry for that mess of words, just got a lot to type.

Thank you in advance!

Welcome aboard

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/green-terror.698294/#post-7869130

 

[aria]

You can easily find 75 gallons for cheap.. You can find 200 gallons for cheap.. just know where to look. Use Craigslist and letgo. Check Craigslist free, people give tanks away all the time.. I bought a fluval 48 to 60 inch aquasky a marineland 36 inch led light gravel 75 gallon tank and stand and it was an oceanic. Lids decor, siphon powerheads and ugf for 60$. Use Amazon for the lights and as far as your filtration costs you can easily run 2 sponge filters I use xy 380 or something forgot the name like 5$ each on Amazon with 1 power head and 1 airstone.

 

[aria]

Just looked at craigslist and found a fluval 406 for 40$ and a 150 with tank and stand for 300. Plenty of cheaper tanks on there too. Found my deal on letgo.

 

[Backfromthedead]

I personally believe the 55 will be fine with adequate maintenance. 75 is perfect for a single gt or pair imo. But use the 55 for awhile and save for a larger tank in the meantime. It will take a male gt a couple years to "outgrow" a 55. Just make sure youre doing plenty of water changes once the gt puts on some size to keep it healthy.

 

[Rocksor]

The 55g is fine until the fish is ~9" total length. It could take 3 years (from 2") of normal feeding for an average green terror to reach that length.

 

[MrsE88]

I have to disagree with a 55g being ok long term. And speaking from experience a 75 is not big enough for a pair long term either.
If you want a green terror try to get a female. That will give you time to save for a bigger tank. My female is now 2yrs old and around 7”. My male on the other hand is only a year old and 10”. So you can see a male will quickly outgrow a tank that’s only 12” front to back.
Don’t put any other cichlids in the tank. Some schoolers would be good. My terrors get along with danios and tetras. Snails are good for algae control, just get bigger ones so they aren’t eaten.

And as mentioned tanks can be had for cheap. See if any small fish shops sell used tanks. And of course Craigslist, letgo, and garage sales are great places to get good deals. I got my 75g for $50 and a free almost new 70g on Craigslist. Checkout Facebook sales pages too. And don’t be shy about putting out an iso ad. I know I’ve given things away that I’d normally charge for just because it feels good to give to someone that really wants something.

 

[Rocksor]

I have to disagree with a 55g being ok long term. And speaking from experience a 75 is not big enough for a pair long term either.
If you want a green terror try to get a female. That will give you time to save for a bigger tank. My female is now 2yrs old and around 7”. My male on the other hand is only a year old and 10”. So you can see a male will quickly outgrow a tank that’s only 12” front to back.
Don’t put any other cichlids in the tank. Some schoolers would be good. Mine terrors get along with danios and tetras. Snails are good for algae control, just get bigger ones so they aren’t eaten.

How much and how often are you feeding your male? What foods?

 

[MrsE88]

How much and how often are you feeding your male? What foods?

I started out feeding 3-4 x a day. But now it’s just once or twice. I don’t feed anything fancy. Tetra cichlid sticks and pellets. Carnivore 8-type blend and he eats the rams horn snails I put in the tank. I stopped feeding bloodworms and krill a while back. That food wasn’t ment for him, but he is a food hog. He also eats the tropical flakes and sinking pellets ment for the schoolers.

 

[duanes]

I agree a 75 would be better, to me a 55 is only large enough for a 5.5" fish.
And I don't know why you think a Green Terror is ruthless (other than the name), I find them quite mild mannered compared to many other cichlids.
But in a 55 it probably will kill many other fish you try to put with it, because of the lack of space.
When most people talk about cichlids being aggressive, I believe it is mostly due to being put in a tank hardly bigger that a rut in the road, and one never finds cichlids living in ruts, by choice.
I have had plenty of 100+ gallon tanks, that I paid $100 or much less for. So for me its about proper size quarters for the fish, not getting something I can't properly house.