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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Green terror
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Photo by Laurimar Sepulveda, CC BY · source · credits

Variations

3 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Green terror

Andinoacara rivulatus · Gold saum

Aggressive.

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· real AED shop prices, never conversions
20 cmAdult size ✓
20–24 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–8pH ✓
304 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Green terror eats animals up to about 8 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Green terror eats animals up to about 8 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 23–24 °C.
Not recommended
  • Green terror eats animals up to about 8 cm. Black neon tetra only grows to 3.2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

72 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–25 dGH
Group size ✓Can live alone
Temperament ✓Aggressive
Swims at ✓Middle
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Aggressive.

Food

Pellets, prawns.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males are much larger than females and adult males grow a pronounced forehead hump. The white or gold-orange edge on the tail and dorsal fin is a colour form, not a sign of sex.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-layer (substrate spawner) · Moderate

Open spawner on hard surfaces such as flat rocks; the female tends the eggs and larvae while the male defends the territory.

Pairing

Buy a group and let pairs form.

Setup

A 55 gallon (200 L) tank with flat rocks and caves, 24-27 C.

What starts it

Warm water and good food. Pairs clean a flat rock.

Eggs

Up to about 400-600 eggs; hatch in about 3-4 days.

Raising the fry

Feed baby brine shrimp and crushed flake. Parents guard fry. Separate at 3 cm.

Common mistakes
  • Tank too small
  • Pairing two males
  • Poor water quality
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionPacific slope of Ecuador & northern Peru
Rivers and lakesCoastal rivers such as the Guayas and Tumbes
HabitatCoastal rivers and streams
Native rangeAbout 400 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the green terror

Described by Albert Günther in 1860 as Chromis rivulata, from coastal western Ecuador and far northern Peru. In 2009 the more southerly Peruvian fish were split off as Andinoacara stalsbergi, which hobbyists often call the 'true' green terror.

Albert Günther described this cichlid in 1860 from western Ecuador. Its green-blue face markings and strong territorial temper gave it the common name 'green terror'. Adult males develop a hump on the forehead.

First described by Albert Günther in 1860.

  • It comes from the Pacific side of the Andes.
  • Males develop a hump on the head.
  • It is strongly territorial.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources