Green Terror Personality ?

[Zulu]

Hey guys - alright, so, I've been reading a bit about the CA/SA cichlids, and I'm a fan. I've always liked the oscars, but just recently discovered the "Green Terror". Now, what I like most about the oscars is their personality and how they really respond to you outside of the tank. What I really don't like is how you can be really hit or miss with them, and might get a guy who just hides away all the time. I'm looking for the exact opposite of that, something that's very bold. I've been trying to read up about Oscars, Green Terrors, and Jack Dempseys, and from what I gather the Green Terror might display a nice mix between the two - as far as having some brains and also being fairly brave.

What I'm hoping for here is that someone with first hand experience with any of, or even better all of, these fish might give me some helpful insight. Or perhaps some links which I have yet to find?

 

[radamsk1]

I've found Oscars to be quite intelligent fish. As for the Green Terror and JDs, they can be rambunctious, skittish, or even shy. Most of the time I've noticed that Oscars wouldn't display this huge range of temperaments. One of my JDs now, although still young, is a quick darty fish but is easily scared when I enter the room, although I can notice he has an aggressive behavior, he still is a bit skittish. I've found that GTs can also behave like this. Their temperaments and behavior all depends on the fish, and you can never really tell what the fish will grow into.

 

[phOOey]

you probably wont find a fish as interactive as an oscar, but GT's definately come close. They are a lot more aggressive than an oscar would be, i dont actually have any experience with any of the fish, but i know they're all quite similar in behavour and such.

 

[Zulu]

Hrm. Woe is me. If only I had a room for a gargantuan tank, then I could get both

 

[LongTime]

I have found that with all the New World Cichlids that I have kept that it is a matter of socialization. If you get them young, put them in the tank they are going to grow up in so you don't have to terrorize them with the net, and have the tank in a high traffic area, they all tend to become quite social and develop wonderful personalities. They get to see you often, learn that your appearance means food is on the way and even get use to the regular tank maintenance. My JDs, Texas Cichlids and convicts are so use to me that they get in the way when I'm trying to do something in the tank. They also disappear if a stranger is standing close to the tank.

That doesn't mean they dn't have their moments. The sevrum, the fish on my avitar, sometimes behaves as if he as never seen me before although he is in a 40 gal less than six feet from my computer. Also, I have noticed a high lever of skitish behavior from the Jds, etc, in my 125 when a storm is approaching.