Green Terror Cichlid Fish Facts

Species name: Aequidens Rivulatus
Common names: Green Terror
Family: Cichlidae
Order: Perciformes
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: Adult males can reach 10″ to 13″. Mature females are usually smaller at about 6″ to 9″.
Minimum tank size: 55 gallons for a pair
Hardiness: Easy
Aggressiveness: Aggressive
Distribution: Peru and Ecuador
Diet: Omnivorous. Accepts all types of food.

The Green Terror cichlid is one of the most popular fishes in the breeder world. This is due to the double character that has been kept by this fish. This fish is known as an aggressive fish while actually, they are quite peaceful fish. It becomes known due to its low face which means its beauty and its beast character that keep in the one body. This fish is not that bad and awful like you cannot even touch it nor pet it. It is not like that. But due to its totally beast behavior which seems hard to be tame, many people become uninterested to pet this. In fact, this fish is really beautiful in its own way which you may not have known before. Thus there are several things that you need to know to make you fall in love with this fish.

Green Terror Fish

Green Terror Habitat

The natural habitat of green terror cichlids is found in Ecuador and Peru in South America, where the Spanish-speaking population commonly refers to it as Vieja fish. The typical Green terror cichlid habitat is the coastal rivers that you can find on the Pacific side of these two countries, begins in the River Esmeraldas in Ecuador and continues to the River Tumbes in Peru.

This scientific name of this Green Terror fish comes from the Animalia kingdom continues to the phylum that is included as chordate while the class is Actinopterygii. The order of this fish is Perciformes, and the family comes from Cichlidae. Thus it is given the Cichlid name on their epithet name. The subfamily is Cichlasomatinae while the genus is Andinoacara and the species is Aeduidens Rivulatus. This fish nature ecosystem water is actually at the rate of 6.5 pH and 8.0 pH, and the range temperature is around 20 – 24C.

Appearance

This name is referenced to its visual look that seems to be little fierce and strong while the green means the color preference that looks close to green lichen color and sometimes tends close to the olive green. This fish has Latin name as Aequidens Rivulatu. This fish is actually freshwater fish that comes from South America. The body appearance of this fish is various but the most one is blue-green that has light yellow color on its dorsal and the caudal. The pectoral and the fins are colored with light blue as well. This fish has a compact body that looks bold with a quite big forehead. By seeing this you can imagine how beautiful the fish is.

Green Terror Size

The size of this fish is different. The male green terror can grow from 12 up to 113 inches while the female is smaller which they can reach from 6 inches up to 12 inches. The color body of each is quite different as well. The male will have more attractive color while the female has more subdued color. The life year of this fish is quite long. It can live more than 10 years in a wild river and can be longer if your pet in an appropriate way. Green Terror cichlid is known as an aggressive fish, a very aggressive one, but they really beautiful.

Keeping the Green Terror Cichlid

Even though the general statement saying that this Green Terror cichlid is an aggressive fish actually it is not. People seem misunderstood about the characteristic of this fish while actually this fish really have a quite calm character. That is why if you want to put in the tank along together with other fishes, you need to know about several things at first. What you have to note with the red line is the fact this fish is actually a quite peaceful fish. They can be in a good manner as long as you put it together with the same species.

This is the firsts secret you can keep. You have to put the fish along with their own family with the same like the size as well. The Green Terror fish is a monogamous fish which means you have to place it into the different tank if you want to pet several paired fishes. This fish does not compatible with paired fishes. So, the best thing for you when you are going to keep it on the tank is by placing it together with the same species. Others suggest that you still can take note is by decorating your aquarium with open space for a swim which means you have to buy a quite larger aquarium for your fish.

Tiny aquarium just is not suitable for them. You have to palace it on the wider area so they can swim freely. You have to put many rocks as well. The rock can create the shelter that is their habits. They can build territory as well. What you need to know is you have to prepare rather sturdy rocks for you. The rocks should be the stable ones since this fish is included as an active fish. They can digger the rocks as deep as they want because it is included as the habit that they like. The steady rocks will not easily be fallen as well so it is safer ad not dangerous to your fish. Moreover, it will not crack the tank as well.

This Green Terror cichlid has been placed on the aquarium which the gravel has the thickness around. It will be much better if you can add the submerged plants that are alive as well so your tank will look more lively and attractive. For example, you can put some low light aquarium plant like the Anubias since it has strong leaves. You are allowed to use the plastic one like amazon swords (Echinodorus) or Vallisneria as well. With these plants, your aquarium will totally look marvelous. You have to remember to clean your tank very often because this fish needs it very much. You have to change it frequently.

As useful tips for you is by using the canister filter for your tank. The best aquarium equipment will help you by giving a cross-flow water tank in a really good way. Also, it gives you balance heating for your tank which is good for your fish as well. Others think that you need to think is the tank lighting. The lighting has to be personal. The right aquarium lighting will help the plants grow well. You have to put the balanced lighting that comes from the very low lighting into the bright one. You have to control the algae so it will not grow too much which will impact something that is good for your fish. Please check this Finnex Ray 2 lighting review that might be your best choice.

Feeding

This is an important thing you really need to know. The Green Terror fish is an omnivore fish which means they can eat both plants and insects. You can feed them with meats or plants at the same time. You can also feed them with frozen food if you like. The recommended one is bloodworms, Mysis shrimp, krill, brine shrimp, and much more. If you prefer to give the live animal as their food then you can try to give worms in a small size, houses flies, or any crustacea.

Breeding Green Terror Fish

If you are the breeder, you have to know that this fish in an egg-layer nest guarding fish which means you have to place it into a special tank. You have to put it into the different once they have egg since they can be so very aggressive. Thus, to help it from killing each other or destroying the egg you have to separate it. Setting the temperature of your tank in an appropriate range, you have to provide big and larger tank space as well so they can swim freely which is good for them. It helps them not to fight each other. You have to remember to put them together with the same species as well. So, here is all that you need to know about this fish. Good Luck.