Finally Got My Cichlids!

[Stampos]

Hi guys,

I recently stocked my 110gal (60x18x24) tank with SA Cichlids after getting some advice from Minxfishy

So far I have:

2x Gold Severum (1m, 1f - quite young so only just beginning to show facial markings)

2x Blue Acara (1m,1f)

I also plan to add 3 red hump geos shortly.

Unfortunately, I made a classic error when purchasing the acara - that's right, I have 3 gold saum/green terror juveniles in the tank!

I have read up on them and realise I cannot keep all 3, so my question is could I keep a single specimen?

I have kept melanochromis maingano before so have experience of aggressive fish, and I know that a lot depends on the individual fish, but I am concerned my other fish may not be robust enough?

I also have plecs and cories in the tank so these are a consideration too - I also use a 30gal sump with a chamber "reserved" should I have a problem fish.

I've a feeling its a no go but thought I would ask the experts, as the Gts look beautiful.

Thanks,

Simon

 

[Davo86]

No i'm afraid the GTs will become far too aggressive for the Sevs and could quite easily kill them once it/they mature/s,

Minx has experienced this herself quite recently where her GT killed her Oscar and started attacking her Severum ?

 

[Joller]

yeah i dont think you can keep blue acaras and GTs together

 

[Cichlid_Crazy]

^ you can..they mix very well...however Males will fight and M/F will breed so they need to be F/F

Green Terrors are definitely a mixed bag...i had mine from 2" and grew it to 5" with no aggression...however once they hit around 6" thye can turn a bit crazy from what i read and need tougher fish like JD's/Convicts as companions or a tank tyo themselves.

 

[Rust]

Not true...GTs can be very peacful given the right amout of room in a tank, with the right tank mates, i have a 6ft tank with a 4" GT and a 4" wild acara, and 2 smaller tank bred acaras, they are in with oscars and convicts and other oddball fish they all get along great,

And from persoanl experiance, sevs and GTs can be kept to gether, although if you get an aggressive GT or sev one will either bully or kill the other in my case my beautiful 9" male GT got killed by my 7" male severum, but another 6" GT i got the severum never bothered him (i have since sold up...but just started again within the last few months lol) but given the right tank, tank mates and hiding places it can work...

 

[Joller]

i misread OP
i thought it said gold saum where it says gold sev
gawsh im silly

 

[KittyKat]

While my Green Terror male was very aggressive and beat the crap out of anything that went near him (so would not be compatible in your case), my female was very peaceful and would have been compatible with your setup. It very much depends on individual fish and you would have better luck with a female. You would also have the advantage of them growing up together.

 

[minxfishy]

Unfortunately without knowing the differences, its easy to get GT's instead of BA's. Some LFS dont know the difference

You wont be able to keep all three, particularly if you get a pair! As you have already said and know, compatibility will come down to the individual fishes temprement. If you get a reasonably placid GT you should be fine, however and is more common than not, they do turn out to be aggressive, particularly the males and will claim the whole tank as their own and wont tolerate any other cichlids. The other problem is that the GT's will grow much faster than the Severums, almost twice the rate.

As Davo mentioned in his post, I had a juvi GT (got at 2") in a tank with a large severum and Oscar amongst other cichlids and dithers, who was perfectly fine til he reached 6" and turned violent overnight, particularly aggressive towards the Oscar (who he didnt kill but did alot of damage to) and HATED the severum, whom he had previously never bothered and in fact was submissive to and it wasnt very pleasant to watch, I rehomed him within a day before he killed them both.

I have (some would say stupidly) recently bought another juvi GT, in the hope that this one may not be so aggressive and at 2.3" is still perfectly placid, this time round I have a back up plan in place for if (when) any problems start.


So you could wait til they grow a little and see which is less aggressive and could co-exist with the severums/Geo's, or you should take them back and explain that they are not Acaras and would like a refund. Your choice, if you do decide to keep 1 or all 3, you must have a back up tank and be prepared to move them quickly because when they turn, they do so without warning IME.