Green Terror tank mates
A large aggressive cichlid with spectacular teal colouring. Requires species-only or carefully managed setups of 300 L or more.
Common mistakeBuying a juvenile green terror as a centrepiece community fish is how keepers invent systematic slaughter as the fish grows. Adults reach around thirty centimetres and kill peaceful companions. Plan a species or robust New World setup in three-hundred-litre class water — or do not buy the cute juvenile.
Each name below opens a pair check with Green Terror. That check is the decision, not the list itself.
Usually safer companions
Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.
The Green Terror profile lists Jack Dempsey as both safe and a recommended pairing. Jack Dempsey is a aggressive intermediate-care species with a 200L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
The Green Terror profile lists Oscar as both safe and a recommended pairing. Oscar is a aggressive intermediate-care species with a 300L minimum. Run the pair checker for your specific tank before stocking.
Risky or situational
May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.
Angelfish is flagged predatory. Equal-size adults usually coexist, but the moment one is stressed, sick, or smaller after a moult, it becomes prey. Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Angelfish is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Green Terror. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Both species defend territory. The pairing needs a long footprint and rockwork or planting that breaks the sightline between two defended spots. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Fish to avoid with Green Terror
Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.
Green Terror is flagged as predatory or as likely to eat small fish, and Corydoras Catfish at 6cm is well within an adult Green Terror's gape.
Green Terror is flagged as predatory or as likely to eat small fish, and Guppy at 5cm is well within an adult Green Terror's gape.
Green Terror is flagged as predatory or as likely to eat small fish, and Neon Tetra at 4cm is well within an adult Green Terror's gape.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Green Terror: 300L. Group minimum 1 .
- Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other. That is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
- Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 300L hub.
Easier alternatives to consider
Hardier first-tank names from the library. Still read the profile. Not a substitute for reading this one.
Plan before you buy
Start a pair check with Green Terror, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.
Tank hubs: 300L
Related reading
Guides that list other fish with the same trait, so you can plan around the group rather than one row.
- Fish that eat smaller tank mates →
Green Terror may eat anything that fits in its mouth as it grows.
Filtration & heating
A 300L minimum tank for Green Terror needs a filter rated for at least 1200L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 22–26°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Oscar · min 300L
- Severum · min 250L
- African Cichlid · min 200L
- Convict cichlid · min 200L
- Discus · min 200L
- Firemouth Cichlid · min 200L
- Jack Dempsey · min 200L
- Keyhole cichlid · min 200L
Related (care + temperament)
Other species that list Green Terror
Reverse lookup: these profiles reference Green Terror under safe or “best with” lists.
Featured compatibility checks
Curated pair pages for Green Terror. Each opens a full verdict — not just a list label.
Green Terror tank mates — quick answers
- What fish can live with Green Terror?
- Usually safer companions on this hub include Jack Dempsey, Oscar. Open each pair check before you buy — the list is a shortlist, not a guarantee.
- What tank mates should you avoid with Green Terror?
- Avoid Corydoras Catfish, Guppy, Neon Tetra based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
- What size tank do Green Terror need for a community?
- 300L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 366L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.