Single Green Terror ok in a 75g?

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GTs can get very aggressive in breeding urge. This male GT was locking jaw with a bigger Vieja fenestratus soon after I introduced him a female. His aggression immediately turned up challenging the tank boss to claim his territory to breed. I had to remove the female (in the far right of the video) to restore peace.


[video=youtube;gdn0gOvKvUs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gdn0gOvKvUs[/video]
 
GreenTerror3003 said:
This is also because the fish are smaller than the Green Terror. In other words the fish are not perceived as a threat or challenge so the Green Terror is more than likely not to care. I have done this too with African cichlids. But oftentimes if you put a equal sized challenger in the aquarium, the peaceful cichlid transforms into a beast.
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Mostly agree on this, really what I had in mind when I said certain tankmates can bring out their aggression. Though I'd qualify and say it's not a 100% rule and it's not always size in itself that makes the difference, at least from what I've seen. The attitude of the other fish is a factor, or things like whether both are males looking to be the dominant fish in the tank or similar. I've kept (adult) green terrors with same size or even a bit larger fish before and they were fine, but the other fish also deferred to the green terror, sometimes after some squaring off convinced them it was in their best interests.

One instance was one Malawi tank I had where a group of C. moorii were being punks to the other fish. Put a similar sized green terror in the tank and they settled right down and that was that. They seemed quite impressed with him, to the point it was comical... almost like we're not worthy, we're not worthy.

What I've seen is green terrors don't intimidate easily and don't like to back down when challenged. All this is tank raised. As far as wilds, those I've kept always had a big chip on their shoulder, even as 2 inch juvies in tanks with larger fish.

All this brings to mind I saw a gt species tank once. Awesome tank, don't remember exact size, but there were something like 8-10 adults, only green terrors and a large royal pleco or two.
 
...Keep thinking of different tanks I've seen. Saw one once, lfs actually, large tank, huge green terror, maybe the largest green severum I've ever seen, huge pacu, big fat oscar, large pleco, L25 if I remember correctly. As mellow a tank as I've ever seen.
 
neutrino said:
Mostly agree on this, really what I had in mind when I said certain tankmates can bring out their aggression. Though I'd qualify and say it's not a 100% rule and it's not always size in itself that makes the difference, at least from what I've seen. The attitude of the other fish is a factor, or things like whether both are males looking to be the dominant fish in the tank or similar. I've kept (adult) green terrors with same size or even a bit larger fish before and they were fine, but the other fish also deferred to the green terror, sometimes after some squaring off convinced them it was in their best interests.

One instance was one Malawi tank I had where a group of C. moorii were being punks to the other fish. Put a similar sized green terror in the tank and they settled right down and that was that. They seemed quite impressed with him, to the point it was comical... almost like we're not worthy, we're not worthy.

What I've seen is green terrors don't intimidate easily and don't like to back down when challenged. All this is tank raised. As far as wilds, those I've kept always had a big chip on their shoulder, even as 2 inch juvies in tanks with larger fish.

All this brings to mind I saw a gt species tank once. Awesome tank, don't remember exact size, but there were something like 8-10 adults, only green terrors and a large royal pleco or two.
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+1, I agree with what you are mentioning 110%. ;) This is also what I was trying to express, you perhaps just expressed the idea more efficiently. :)


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tiger15 said:
GTs can get very aggressive in breeding urge. This male GT was locking jaw with a bigger Vieja fenestratus soon after I introduced him a female. His aggression immediately turned up challenging the tank boss to claim his territory to breed. I had to remove the female (in the far right of the video) to restore peace.


[video=youtube;gdn0gOvKvUs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gdn0gOvKvUs[/video]
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+1, I think the intensity and ferocity of a mating pair is amazing! :)


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Compare that to what would happen if a similar sized pair of red devils (or dovii, festae, etc.) were spawning: It would be lights out Vieja and other random fish in that tank. Or they'd be packed into the corners. GTs just aren't on the same level of aggression.

Back in the day I kept GTs with Frontosa, haps and peacocks.

Matt

GreenTerror3003 said:
+1, I think the intensity and ferocity of a mating pair is amazing! :)


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viejafish said:
GT can be kept with angels and tetra.

[video=youtube;yWSFgPtjscY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yWSFgPtjscY[/video]
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This argument or evidence does not necessarily support the claim that all Green Terrors are peaceful; I can post a video or pictures of my 17 inch male Dovii living with four leleupi cichlids that are about two to three inches. I can post a video or pictures of my six inch female Festae living with my two and a half inch Festae. I can post pictures of my six inch Festae with one to one and a half inch Calvus. Another question is why would the Green Terrors attack out of aggression if the Tetras are not a threat? If one of the tetras attacked the Green Terrors, are you implying they would hide or back down? The statement is true that they can live with Angels and Tetra but that does not mean they should or almost always can live with them. That is like a person saying that another person can have a Large male Jack Dempsey because he is so peaceful with his other fish, but the another person obtains a large male Jack Dempsey with his other tank mates but then wonders why the other fish were murdered with the male Jack Dempsey hiding in a corner or cave. I have been there with experience with many genus and species, and that very idea tends to be misleading and distorted.


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dogofwar said:
Compare that to what would happen if a similar sized pair of red devils (or dovii, festae, etc.) were spawning: It would be lights out Vieja and other random fish in that tank. Or they'd be packed into the corners. GTs just aren't on the same level of aggression.

Back in the day I kept GTs with Frontosa, haps and peacocks.

Matt
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+1, but you are comparing the worst of the worst, and that is not necessarily an accurate portrayal. They simply are probably not the most aggressive but they are still aggressive. I have owned and seen other people's Green Terrors in spawning mode that would obliterate almost anything in the tank or at least die trying. Also I do not understand your point of keeping Green Terrors with Frontosa, Haps, and Peacocks because I have kept Dovii, Festae, and Green Terrors with Frontosa (mine were actually Gibberosa), Haps, and Peacocks. A person just needs to understand the capabilities and potential of many cichlids temperaments and possess enough knowledge regarding how to help control the environment. You know that. ;)


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