Just purchased a red terror and a green terror... advice?

[rob9217]

Hi everyone. Two of my fish have recently died so I've decided to purchase a red terror and a green terror as replacement fish.

Here's the before story:
Before purchasing these fish my tank consisted of two spotted red severums, some catfish and a pike cichlid. One of the spotted red severums died from disease but the other is still alive. After the death of this red severum the pike fish had become increasingly aggressive and would not allow me to introduce any new fish to the tank and even began attacking the surviving severum, forcing me to separate the tank. In the end I gave the pike away to a friend.

I purchased a green terror and a red terror in hopes of reattaining that beautiful and well adjusted tank as it once was during my days of the severums and the pike.

Obviously these are different fish and are a new experience for me. I do know that both of these fish will become aggressive and I am looking to create an atmosphere where these fish can live relatively peacefully in the future. Any advice as to how i should go about raising them?

Tank is 55gallons with some silk plants and malaysian bogwood
Contains these fish::hmm3grin2orange:
Adult red spotted severum
Baby green terror and baby red terror
Two catfish
Two silver dollar-like fish

[johnathonlove'sfish]

your going to need a much larger tank. upwards of a 75 gallon

[Lab_Rat]

You're gonna need a much larger tank, like 180g or more. Red terrors are highly aggressive fish. And if you like the severum, I'd get him out of there sooner rather than later.

[rob9217]

hmm... the thing is im not really in a situation right now were i can get a bigger tank.
what if i exchange the red terror for another green terror?

[Lab_Rat]

I wouldn't do 2 GT in a tank that small. I would take back both the RT and the GT (the GT can hit 11") and go with a salvini and a blue acara instead (or a port acara). They'd be more suitable for a 55g and less likely to destroy your sev.

[rob9217]

hmm that's an interesting suggestion... i think im going to try something along those lines. any other fish that could fit in with the acara's or salvini's?

[Lab_Rat]

Rainbow cichlid, cutteri, festivum, curviceps, and possibly angel fish could all work (obviously not all of them together).

[Lady Hobbs]

And don't forget you already have 2 silver dollars and 2 plecos already. Are those common pleco's? Not sure why you have those and a severum and think you need even more.