Green terror care guide
Also called: Green terror cichlid, Gold saum, White saum, Orange saum
The green terror is a tough South American cichlid with shiny blue-green scales and a gold, orange or white tail edge. It grows to about 8 in (20 cm) and is aggressive, so keep one alone in at least 80 gallons (303 L), or one bonded pair in a bigger tank.
Green terrors need a tank of at least 80 gallons (303 L), and water at 20–24°C (68–75°F) with a pH of 6.5–8. They grow to about 20 cm (7.9 in) and are aggressive.
Plan a tank with green terrorsSee all tank mates
Green terror quick facts
| Scientific name | Andinoacara rivulatus |
|---|---|
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Origin | Pacific-slope rivers of western Ecuador and northern Peru, South America (aquarium fish are captive-bred) |
| Adult size | 20 cm (7.9 in) |
| Minimum tank | 80 gallons (303 L), at least 150 cm (59 in) long |
| Temperature | 20–24°C (68–75°F) |
| pH | 6.5–8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–20 dGH |
| Group size | Alone or as a pair |
| Temperament | Aggressive; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Middle |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 7–10 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | No, eats or uproots plants |
Tank setup
One adult needs at least an 80-gallon (303 L) tank about 5 ft (150 cm) long and 18 in (45 cm) deep. A bonded pair needs more than that, and a tank shared with other big fish needs far more room. Use sand, smooth rocks, caves and driftwood, and set heavy decor directly on the glass because it digs. Tough plants like Java fern and anubias tied to wood last best.
How many green terrors in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits green terrors is a 125 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Green terrors (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Too small |
| 55 gallon | Too small |
| 75 gallon | Too small |
| 125 gallon | Up to 7 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one fish or one pair.
What you need for green terrors
Sized for a 125 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits green terrors. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 125 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 125 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 1043 lb (473 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- 2 adjustable heaters, 150 W each (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 72 °F (22 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). Two heaters keep the tank warm if one fails. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Canister filter rated 750–1250 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Heavily stocked or messy fish: 6–10 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 150 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 72 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for green terrors
- Cichlid pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)Larger pellets for cichlids and other big fish.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
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Water parameters
Keep it at 20–24°C (68–75°F), pH 6.5–8.0 and soft to fairly hard water (5–20 dGH). It is a big, messy eater, so use strong filtration. Change 30–50% of the water every week to keep nitrate low.
Best tank mates for green terrors
These popular species share green terrors' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 2 good matches.
Avoid keeping green terrors with
- Bristlenose pleco: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
- Bronze corydoras: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
- Cherry shrimp: Green terror eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common goldfish.
- Common pleco: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common plecos.
- Dwarf gourami: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf gouramis.
Feeding
An omnivore. Use a quality sinking cichlid pellet or stick as the staple. Add frozen or live foods like krill, mysis, earthworms and chopped prawn, plus some plant matter such as peas or spinach. Skip beef heart, other mammal meat and feeder fish.
Behavior
Green terrors are aggressive and territorial, and much worse when they spawn. Keep one alone or one bonded pair. Tankmates must be robust fish of similar size, such as other large cichlids, silver dollars or big plecos, in a very large tank. Any fish small enough to swallow will be eaten.
Breeding
Finding a pair is the hard part, since a male may kill a female he doesn't accept. Raise about six juveniles together, let a pair form, then rehome the rest. The pair cleans a flat stone and lays several hundred eggs. The female mostly tends the eggs and fry while the male patrols the territory, and a breeding pair needs the tank to itself.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep one green terror, or a pair that chose each other. Two random adults often fight badly.
- Add it last to a mixed cichlid tank so it can't claim the whole tank first.
- Every tankmate must be too big to swallow and tough enough to stand up to it.
- Set rocks on the bottom glass before adding sand, so its digging can't topple them.
- Keep a tank divider handy in case a pair or tankmates start fighting.
Frequently asked questions
How big do green terrors get?
Most reach about 8 in (20 cm) in home tanks, and big males can pass 10 in (25 cm). Females stay noticeably smaller.
What size tank does a green terror need?
Plan on at least 80 gallons (303 L) in a tank about 5 ft (150 cm) long for one adult. A pair needs more, and a mix with other large cichlids takes a much bigger tank, around 170 gallons (650 L) or more.
Are green terrors aggressive?
Yes. They are among the more aggressive medium-to-large cichlids, especially when breeding. Keep them only with sturdy fish of similar size.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.