Tank Mates For A Green Terror...

[ChilliPepper]

My GT female was bought when tiny as a Blue Acara, but she is undoubtably a GT now she's grown, and is now about 2.5" (3" with tail and quite deep in body now). Aggression levels are fine at the moment though I am conscious of her eating her tank mates as she gets bigger. I am considering my options for keeping her, as well as my other favourites. You can see my other fish in my signature, count out the barbs and tetras as they will most probably be going.
I am looking to move house, so would ideally like to plan the tank changes to coincide with this to minimise disruption.
I am condering buying another larger tank for her and some other tank mates, and using the current tank for the remaining occupants, and probably still keeping my Betta separate. Or else buying a tank for all other occupants and Betta, and keeping her and Plec in the 190L.

So, if I got a 250L or something like that, who could go in with the GT and Plec (Plec could go in the other tank as he won't get very big anyway). I would quite like an Oscar or Severum. Maybe even a Ghost Knifefish. My OH likes Oscars and the BGKs so this could be a possible persuasion tool for getting a larger tank...

Another alternative is selling my 190L and replacing it with a larger tank..... Any ideas peeps?

 

[minxfishy]

Unfortunately even in a 250L, which Im assuming is around the dimensions of 4ft x 16", you couldnt keep an Oscar or a severum or a ghost knife. An Oscar requires a 4ft x 18" minimum for one alone, the severum whilst being a big enough tank wouldnt stand a chance with the GT IF she turns nasty, I know, my male GT at 4" turned dramatically on my large Severum, twice its size, its not something you want to witness. A ghost knife requires a 5ft tank minimum for growth too.

In a 250L tank, you could keep the GT with the plec and some dithers along the lines of Giant Danios and some larger tetras which might be fast enough and robust enough to cope.

Its hard to predict how aggressive she may become and what other fish she will tolerate. She may remain placid, in which case you MAY be ok to add a severum, but that would likely need to be added now or very soon and of a good size, which is generally the best way to allow them to grow together and establish their own territories, on the other hand, she could turn aggressive literally overnight and cause damage or death quickly to other fish which previously she hadnt been bothered by at all.

Im not trying to sound negative and some people do keep these fish with other cichlids with no problems, but in main, they are very aggressive, territorial fish, which are hard to house with other cichlids, which I found to be the case with mine, which was male and therefore maybe more aggressive than a female, but had grown up from 1.5" with the severum and other fish, which he turned on very quickly.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Oh blimey, really That puts a bit of a downer on it then, but thanks for the advice. It is hard to predict their temperament. At the moment she's pretty good, though chases the Keyhole and Ram when food is about. She turns realllly dark when food is about, and of course that is when she is most aggressive. Though saying that she doesn't nip, she just chases and they soon get out of her way. She ignores the other fish, though none of them really like the barbs She HATED the Pearl cichlid I bought a while back, even though she was sooo much smaller, she was the boss.
Would she be OK in the 190L with the plec? Would I be able to have any other fish in there or just her? I am trying to weigh up the pros and cons. I don't want to spend £300-£400 on a larger tank and only be able to put her in it, when she could stay in the 190L. At the same time the tank will look so empty with just her in it.

I wish fish shops would label fishes correctly If she had been a Blue Acara as I bought her as, I wouldn't be having this problem now. However I am very attached to her as I've had her from so small and she's very friendly/greedy and watches us. She's a very personable fish.

 

[minxfishy]

She should be ok in the 190L with just the plec, cant see a problem with that, you might like to try some dithers (non expensive ones) just to give some movement, then have another tank for the rest.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Seen a Juwel Rio 300 for sale locally, if I got that or a similar size, could I try a Sev in there do you think? Or maybe some silver dollars...

 

[ChilliPepper]

Been reading up and what about some convicts or frontosa?

 

[minxfishy]

Definately not frontosa, african's that need different water conditions, plus reach 16", require minimum 5ft tank, preferably 6ft and need to be in groups.

Still wouldnt like to say yes to the severum, but worth a try if your ready to move either fish quickly. Silver dollars should be ok.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks. I've read about a few people keeping GTs with Convicts, so may be able to try this. Maybe even try a Firemouth, depending on tank size. Will have to see whether I can pick a larger tank up for a reasonable amount. Hopefully she won't change into a killing machine within the next few months, as we need to find a place to move to yet I can't wait until we can get our own house in a few years time, I'll be getting a huge tank then Would love an Arowana

 

[ChilliPepper]

So, what about in the hypothetical 300L - GT, Convict, Firemouth and 5 Silver Dollars.... Enough room?

 

[minxfishy]

Hypothetically, ok, but be ready to move any fish that is being harrassed OR the aggressor.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks Minx, do you still have your GT and if so, what do you keep with it?

 

[minxfishy]

No I rehomed him immediately (to LFS with a warning on his aggression) as soon as he started attacking my fish, particularly when he terrorised my large severum, he was in the 125g 5ft tank and even that didnt give enough space for any other fish are far as he was concerned!!!

 

[ChilliPepper]

Oh right I'm hoping my female will not grow into a very aggressive fish... Only time will tell I suppose... Still working on OH for the larger fish tank...

 

[meguro]

Usually gt's just fight until they're the dominate fish, then they settle down. Although same size or larger tankmates can still be troublesome. At least that's what I've observed.

 

[ChilliPepper]

OK, got the go ahead for a larger tank but must wait until closer the time to we move, which is fair enough. OH has also suggested if we get a place big enough I can maybe keep my current tanks AND get a larger one So I am going to be busy planning stocking etc for when I can get it

So, in my 190L there will be: 1 x Bolivian Ram, 1 x Keyhole, 4 x Columbian Red Fin Tetras, 5 x Khuli Loaches, 2 x large Amano Shrimp and possibly my Para Plec, but he may go in the bigger tank with my GT. I am wondering what else I could put in there... I could get my Blue Acara that I wanted in the first place Though will get a larger fish to make sure it's deffo a BA! Any suggestions welcome - this is going to be a pretty peaceful tank, though I can't have Angels with my Columbians and from my short experience with them I found them pretty boring anyway. Another type of cichlid would be good, as they are my favourite types along with Plecs... I could get another Plec!

I'm thinking of a 300L minimum, possibly 400L if the right price, for my aggressive tank with my female GT in... May get a Convict and a Firemouth or even try a Severum if I can get a large enough one. Like Silver Dollars, so maybe a shoal of 5 of these.
If I pushed to the 400L, what other beauties are out there to tempt me? I am thinking of trying a Jack Dempsey if so.... My GT and the JD would be introduced to the new tank at the same time so terrotories can be sorted out from the start.. Any fighting and he/she can be removed but I have read they can get along OK.

I should add that I will be getting plenty of rocks, caves and silk plants for the aggressive tank to help with terrotories...