Hello,
I've got a Blue Texas who lived with a pleco for a year.
Previously I had parrots and other cichlids in the tank, but they've died due to sickness.
The only survivors from a 500L and a 200L tank were the Pleco and The Texas.
I've got new fish, a pair of texas and a chocolate cichlid.
Quarantine was fine, no agression.
I've moved the fish in my bedroom tank and Blue has gone bersenk, so I had to install the divider.
After a while, I've returned the other male texas, since it was bullied by everyone (including the Pleco, who ate his food)
Currently, the chocolate and the female texas don't fight (ocasional nipping, but no fin damage), however, when I try to remove the divider, Blue chaces everyone, but the pleco.
What I've done to reduce agression:
- disconnect one of the lights
- put aeration
- keep nitrates "light orange" level
- install additional hiding places
- remove gravel to see if no digging = no nest = no stuff to protect = no agression
- re-add gravel
- lower temperature
What I want to do:
- poke holes in the separator, so female and chocolate can swim through, but not the male texas.
When there was no gravel, the female was able to swim to the male's side.
He chanced her very lightly (almost no agression). Sometimes they've just hanged around. Someteimes the female started poking him and he ignored.
However, this only happens on small space. When the divider is not there, he chaces her too.
The fish can see each other through the separator.
Did anyone had success introducing new fish to old cichlids?
Please advice. I don't want to get rid of the new fish, but permanent separator is not an option.
Thanx!
male texas: ~25cm (5-7 years old)
Female texas: ~7cm (??? years old)
Chocolate male: ~10cm (??? years old)
Pleco: 30cm (13+ years old)
aquarium: 200L
PS: I know my aquarium is overstocked, but I'm able to keep good water quality.
PS2: the only reason I've bought new fish is because he wasn't territorial at all with other fish. This was when he was on his adult size.
PS3: Yes, I know the Pleco should be in the 500L, but he grew up in the 200L and when we moved him to the 500L, he got "depressed" and started loosing weight (rest of "native" fish were fine and water paramethers were good). We put him back and he re-started eating and acted back to normal. So my huge pleco is staying in a small tank because he likes it there.
View attachment fish.jpg
I've got a Blue Texas who lived with a pleco for a year.
Previously I had parrots and other cichlids in the tank, but they've died due to sickness.
The only survivors from a 500L and a 200L tank were the Pleco and The Texas.
I've got new fish, a pair of texas and a chocolate cichlid.
Quarantine was fine, no agression.
I've moved the fish in my bedroom tank and Blue has gone bersenk, so I had to install the divider.
After a while, I've returned the other male texas, since it was bullied by everyone (including the Pleco, who ate his food)
Currently, the chocolate and the female texas don't fight (ocasional nipping, but no fin damage), however, when I try to remove the divider, Blue chaces everyone, but the pleco.
What I've done to reduce agression:
- disconnect one of the lights
- put aeration
- keep nitrates "light orange" level
- install additional hiding places
- remove gravel to see if no digging = no nest = no stuff to protect = no agression
- re-add gravel
- lower temperature
What I want to do:
- poke holes in the separator, so female and chocolate can swim through, but not the male texas.
When there was no gravel, the female was able to swim to the male's side.
He chanced her very lightly (almost no agression). Sometimes they've just hanged around. Someteimes the female started poking him and he ignored.
However, this only happens on small space. When the divider is not there, he chaces her too.
The fish can see each other through the separator.
Did anyone had success introducing new fish to old cichlids?
Please advice. I don't want to get rid of the new fish, but permanent separator is not an option.
Thanx!
male texas: ~25cm (5-7 years old)
Female texas: ~7cm (??? years old)
Chocolate male: ~10cm (??? years old)
Pleco: 30cm (13+ years old)
aquarium: 200L
PS: I know my aquarium is overstocked, but I'm able to keep good water quality.
PS2: the only reason I've bought new fish is because he wasn't territorial at all with other fish. This was when he was on his adult size.
PS3: Yes, I know the Pleco should be in the 500L, but he grew up in the 200L and when we moved him to the 500L, he got "depressed" and started loosing weight (rest of "native" fish were fine and water paramethers were good). We put him back and he re-started eating and acted back to normal. So my huge pleco is staying in a small tank because he likes it there.
View attachment fish.jpg