My silver aro actually died a few weeks ago. I'm thinking about getting a Jardini or a large datnoid, only if I can find them large enough so that they don't become a meal for the gar. I had 2 6' pike cichlids that become meals to the gar...hahaha!!
Love Cali...but that's the main reason I would never live there. We usually don't encourage people to talk about their illegal fish publically on a forum such as this, but what you own is totally your business. So good luck with him...gonna be an awesome specimen.