Vacation time! How to diminish territorial disputes?

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J

JML1997

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2010
4,106
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N.B, Canada
I will be leaving for vacation this Sunday(1st of July), and will return on the Monday of the following week(July 9th). I will be leaving my 220 gallon Cichlid tank in charge of a friend. In hopes of returning with zero casualties, I would like to hear your experiences with diminishing territorial disputes, for instance; How do you aquascape your tank(s). I've heard adding lots of decorations(rocks, driftwood, fake plants), while I also heard that adding nothing in the tank(bare tank) so that none of the fish can create territories. The current aquascape has been in the tank for several weeks. Also I have some other grow outs for a friend(3-4" CA/SA), and was hoping on adding them to the 220 tonight or tomorrow. Less tanks setup the better right now. So there would probably have to be some rock/cave things to provide protection for the growouts.

Stocklist of 220

  • 2x 10" Oscars
  • 1x 6" Venzuelen Pike
  • 1x 7" Severum
  • 1x 11" Vieja Sp.?
  • 1x 6" Paratiapia Bleekeri, Polleni
  • 1x 8" Chocolate Cichlid
  • 1x 10" DoviiXRTM hybrid
  • 1x 5" Vieja Argentea
 
Im interested in seeing some replies here. As I too go on holiday on Sunday and return next monday.

My tank however, doesn't have a mix of cichlids. Just the six GTs which I worry may kill eachother or try breed!

I hope you have a nice holiday! Off anywhere nice!?
 
If they have not killed each other now, chances are they won't kill each other when you are gone :) feed them as normally if you trust your friend, or completely don't feed them and you should be fine.

I wouldn't change things now except a few large water changes since that WILL guarantee some conflict which may or may not resolve themselves before you leave.
 
Yea man if they have been good together they should be fine. Changing things may make new disputes over new territory. If you think about it just as much can happen if you go to sleep as if your away for a week. I would just make shure they are well fed. If your still worried about the turn the temp down a little that will also help. Have a safe trip, and good luck with your fish.

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GrantA94 said:
Im interested in seeing some replies here. As I too go on holiday on Sunday and return next monday.

My tank however, doesn't have a mix of cichlids. Just the six GTs which I worry may kill eachother or try breed!

I hope you have a nice holiday! Off anywhere nice!?
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Heading through Maine, all the way to New York.
ecoli73 said:
If they have not killed each other now, chances are they won't kill each other when you are gone :) feed them as normally if you trust your friend, or completely don't feed them and you should be fine.

I wouldn't change things now except a few large water changes since that WILL guarantee some conflict which may or may not resolve themselves before you leave.
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I think your right.

1bigdovii said:
Yea man if they have been good together they should be fine. Changing things may make new disputes over new territory. If you think about it just as much can happen if you go to sleep as if your away for a week. I would just make shure they are well fed. If your still worried about the turn the temp down a little that will also help. Have a safe trip, and good luck with your fish.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
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Thanks! I think I'll leave the scape the way it is. Do you think some 3"+ CA/SA would do alright in there? I have a 3" Umbee in there now.
 
Thanks! I think I'll leave the scape the way it is. Do you think some 3"+ CA/SA would do alright in there? I have a 3" Umbee in there now.[/QUOTE]

So long as you have time to add them and watch the tank for at least a fews days to see how everyone acts they might be ok. Do the smaller fish have anywhere to retreat to if things get ruff?

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1bigdovii said:
So long as you have time to add them and watch the tank for at least a fews days to see how everyone acts they might be ok. Do the smaller fish have anywhere to retreat to if things get ruff?

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I have a large piece of driftwood with holes in it for the smaller fish to retreat, but I could add some clay pots, and rock caves that are big enough for the grow outs, but to small for the larger residents to get at.
 
i wouldn't add the small ones before you leave.they will not get much food.it would be better to be able to observe the newbies when your there to react better than what you friend might do
 
virgil2090 said:
i wouldn't add the small ones before you leave.they will not get much food.it would be better to be able to observe the newbies when your there to react better than what you friend might do
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I'm also starting to think that. Better safe than sorry.
 
I think what i would do, i would add them before you add any decor and see how your current fish act with them. I know most of the time i can tell pretty quickly after a fish is added whether or not it will work. If you put them in and they are constantly chased then remove them till you return. If your fish more or less ignore them then add the pots ect. Just leave yourself enough time to watch to make shure no new aggression arises and everyone is settled before you leave.

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