Green terror
Encyclopedia
The green terror is a colorful freshwater
fish
in the cichlid
family
. The fish originate on the Pacific
side of South America
in the coastal waters from the Tumbes River
in Peru
to the Esmeraldas River
in Ecuador
. Males reach lengths of 30 centimetres (11.8 in) and females can, too. Females are sexually mature at around 12 centimetres (4.7 in)
As the name implies this species can be very aggressive, especially adult specimens. This is not guaranteed, however, and peaceful individuals are often observed. Juvenile green terrors are often sold in pet shops for the aquarium
hobby, as well as fish similar enough to be mistaken for this species (including the blue acara
, Andinoacara pulcher).
The fish is somewhat deep-bodied with a prominent head. Adult males develop a pronounced forehead hump, a common cichlid trait. Juveniles are tan colored with silver-blue flecks and lack the bright iridescent blue, green, and orange coloration and long, flowing fins of adult specimens.
Green terrors natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.5–8.0 pH
, a water hardness of 25.0 dGH
, and a temperature range of 20 –.
Grows up to 30 centimeters (12 inches).
Green Terror Cichlids can be successfully bred around 8 centimetres (3.1 in).
It is a very aggressive Cichlid, due to its high power; Green Terrors have the potential to fight a Jaguar Cichlid whether defending its young or not. It has powerful jaws and will defend its young with its life.
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
in the cichlid
Cichlid
Cichlids are fishes from the family Cichlidae in the order Perciformes. Cichlids are members of a group known as the Labroidei along with the wrasses , damselfish , and surfperches . This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,300 species have been scientifically described, making it one of...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
. The fish originate on the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
side of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in the coastal waters from the Tumbes River
Tumbes River
The Tumbes River , is a river in South America.The river's sources are located between Ecuadorian El Oro and Loja provinces. It is the border between El Oro and Loja, and afterwards the border between Loja and the Tumbes Region in Peru...
in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
to the Esmeraldas River
Esmeraldas River
The Esmeraldas River is a river in northwestern Ecuador that flows into the Pacific Ocean. Charles Marie de la Condamine sailed up it and then climbed the Andes Mountains when on the Ecuadorian Expedition that left France in May 1735....
in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. Males reach lengths of 30 centimetres (11.8 in) and females can, too. Females are sexually mature at around 12 centimetres (4.7 in)
As the name implies this species can be very aggressive, especially adult specimens. This is not guaranteed, however, and peaceful individuals are often observed. Juvenile green terrors are often sold in pet shops for the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
hobby, as well as fish similar enough to be mistaken for this species (including the blue acara
Blue acara
The blue acara, Aequidens pulcher, is a very colorful freshwater fish in the cichlid family. This fish can be found in Central and South America, from Panama to Colombia. They can reach lengths of...
, Andinoacara pulcher).
The fish is somewhat deep-bodied with a prominent head. Adult males develop a pronounced forehead hump, a common cichlid trait. Juveniles are tan colored with silver-blue flecks and lack the bright iridescent blue, green, and orange coloration and long, flowing fins of adult specimens.
Green terrors natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.5–8.0 pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
, a water hardness of 25.0 dGH
DGH
Degrees of general hardness is a unit of water hardness, specifically of general hardness.General hardness is a measure of the concentration of metal divalent ions such as calcium and magnesium per volume of water...
, and a temperature range of 20 –.
In the aquarium hobby
The green terror is a popular fish in the aquarium trade and is known to be a hardy fish that is relatively easy to keep. They are good eaters, and do well on a variety of foods including cichlid pellets, flakes, bloodworms, and shrimp. Some owners report that a varied diet improves the coloration of the fish. Some owners report fish with calm temperaments that get along well with other species. Others find the fish to fully live up to its name, “terror”. Generally, juveniles are more docile, while adults tend to get more aggressive as they mature. Most get very territorial around breeding time, and should be kept separately during this period if problems arise. There is some indication that keeping the Green terror well fed helps prevent fighting.Grows up to 30 centimeters (12 inches).
Connections to McDaniel
The green terror will also soon become the new mascot for McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. This change will be implemented next year, after all sport seasons have closed. This change is coming because of the controversy surrounding the current mascot and because the green terror can be implemented as the new mascot without a change to the team's name.See also
Green Terror Cichlids can be successfully bred around 8 centimetres (3.1 in).
It is a very aggressive Cichlid, due to its high power; Green Terrors have the potential to fight a Jaguar Cichlid whether defending its young or not. It has powerful jaws and will defend its young with its life.