Green Terror

About

The green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus) is a large South American cichlid from the coastal river drainages running along the Pacific slope, from Ecuador down into northern Peru. It's a genuinely impressive fish, with adults developing rich iridescent green and blue scaling, and males typically growing a prominent nuchal hump as they mature. In the wild it inhabits both small streams and larger coastal waterways, and that river-hardened nature translates into a bold, confident personality in the aquarium. The name is not an exaggeration. This is a seriously territorial and aggressive species, and tankmate selection has to be taken seriously. A single specimen or a bonded pair is the most practical approach for most setups. In very large aquariums, robust companions like sizable catfish or similarly tough cichlids can sometimes work, but any hint of breeding activity will almost certainly end badly for anything else sharing the water. Breeding itself is a rewarding experience if you go about it right. Buying a group of juveniles and letting them pair off naturally is far better than trying to introduce adults, since males can be lethal toward females they haven't accepted. Once paired, the two share parenting duties in a classic cichlid fashion, guarding eggs and fry with serious intensity. Broadly manageable for a keeper who understands cichlid behavior, not a beginner community fish by any stretch.