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Green Terror
An oval-shaped cichlid with a rounded caudal fin. Older males develop a large lump on the forehead. The upper back is olive green, while the flanks are iridescent light green. Each scale has a dark green marking giving the fish several sets of broken stripes. Two to four iridescent gold, lateral stripes are also located in this area. The belly is pinkish brown as is the head. The cheeks are marked with lines and dots that are iridescent turquoise in color. The fins are marked with iridescent green to blue markings and the edge of the dorsal and caudal fins is orange or white-depending on the geographical population.
The males can grow to 8" (20 cm), while the females grow to 6" (15 cm). They generally prefer the bottom and middle areas of the tank. The tank should be at least 35 gallon (132 L) for the smaller fish, under 5" and the adults require a larger tank of at least 55 gallons.
These fish are found in South America; Columbia, Ecuador, Peru. Provide many hiding places among rocky areas and driftwood. Use large, hardy plants if any, because this fish may burrow. Leave an open swimming area. Water parameters should range 6-8 pH (6.8), 4-20 dH (8), with the temperature at 68-77°F (20-25°C)
Green Terrors are known to be a territorial fish that can be combined with other large, robust, aggressive fish. Pairs form a nuclear family.
Tank mates for these fish include Cichlasomines from South and Central America, Pimelodids, Loricarids, Doradids, Silver Dollars, Pacus, Arawana.
They require foods such as large live and dry foods, pellets, live fish, and frozen blood worms.
When sexing these fish, keep in mind that males will develop a large hump on their forehead with age. The females are usually darker in color and smaller.
Breeding the Green Terror is somewhat difficult. Try using warmer water with a temperature of 77-81°F (25-27°C), a pH of 6.5, and a water hardness from 5-8 dH. As many as 300 eggs are laid on carefully cleaned rocks. The fry hatch in 3-4 days and are free swimming after 9-12 days, at which time they can be fed brine shrimp. The fry are sensitive to water pollutants and should be changed often. They are slow growing until the reach 3/4", when their growth rate accelerates. Be careful when cleaning a tank that has fry in it as they can get sucked up in the syphoning hose. Keep it at the opposite end of the tank for safety. They become sexually mature at 4-5" (10-13 cm).
Keep up good water conditions for this fish's full colors to come out. Some researchers believe that A. rivulatus has some dwarf sub-species that grow no larger than 5" (13 cm).
