Never underrestimate small angry JD ladies...

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Dragonis95

Dragonis95

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Sep 3, 2017
111
205
51
30
hello everyone,

As my Jack Dempseys have laid eggs, from which a part is white and full of fungus,
I tried to remove the dead and overgrown eggs of the place the female guards them.
I got a few removed, every time the female came closer to me, getting a darker and darker warning colour...
I pushed it gently backwards, hoping it would understand and leave the eggs alone for a second.
Well, I did go completely wrong at this point.
She rushed onto my finger and bit me!!!
It didn´t hurt that much, but I still feel it, although it happened 10 minutes ago...
I can warn everyone who thinks smaller cichlids (about 5 inches) don´t get angry enough to attack a human hand.
Three wise words:
They. Do. Attack.

And that´s how she looks when guarding her eggs... beautiful but beasty.DSC09562.JPG

DSC09581.JPG DSC09564.JPG So I hope everyone who did not already make this weird experience is warned now...
Don´t try to sort eggs for the ladies... they don´t like and don´t understand.

Have a nice long weekend everyone
 
  • Like
Reactions: JAYBIRD1011, tlindsey, Fishflyer and 8 others
I have a breeding pair of Honduran Red Points. The male every time I do water changes gets me about 5 times or so. Didn't hurt, more surprised than anything.
Casper got me one time, that one hurt a bit. Not looking forward to when he gets bigger.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey and Fishflyer
Jexnell said:
I have a breeding pair of Honduran Red Points. The male every time I do water changes gets me about 5 times or so. Didn't hurt, more surprised than anything.
Casper got me one time, that one hurt a bit. Not looking forward to when he gets bigger.
Click to expand...
Didn't like because you were hurt but because of the beware value. Casper not friendly. Does he resemble the Friendly Ghost or you like the name? I named my Electric Yellow Lab-- Phoenix named After the legend. This poor fish was beat up by another cichlid. I arrived home for the tail end of the attacks. The poor yellow lab was swimming on it's side; barely and rarely swimming. I scooped him out of there and moved him to his own tank. I don't remember at the moment if I moved fish or prepared a tank with medium and water from another of my tanks. I did what I could with aqua meds but mostly he did it himself, came back from the edge. Iffy the first 2 days. Marked improvement the third day. He was eating and swimming almost normal. Acting like normal day 4. This was like a year ago. Has grown substantially. Shy but curious. Am going to look for a companion for him soon. With cichlids it is chancy getting a personality match. My LFS doesn't sell cichlids anymore will have to look at Petsmart or Petco. The manager of the latter is nice and will order for me if not in stock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jexnell
Dragonis95 said:
hello everyone,

As my Jack Dempseys have laid eggs, from which a part is white and full of fungus,
I tried to remove the dead and overgrown eggs of the place the female guards them.
I got a few removed, every time the female came closer to me, getting a darker and darker warning colour...
I pushed it gently backwards, hoping it would understand and leave the eggs alone for a second.
Well, I did go completely wrong at this point.
She rushed onto my finger and bit me!!!
It didn´t hurt that much, but I still feel it, although it happened 10 minutes ago...
I can warn everyone who thinks smaller cichlids (about 5 inches) don´t get angry enough to attack a human hand.
Three wise words:
They. Do. Attack.

And that´s how she looks when guarding her eggs... beautiful but beasty.View attachment 1315880

View attachment 1315885 View attachment 1315881 So I hope everyone who did not already make this weird experience is warned now...
Don´t try to sort eggs for the ladies... they don´t like and don´t understand.

Have a nice long weekend everyone
Click to expand...
What a great post. Not about you getting hurt though I mean, I am not blood lusty. " Beautiful and beastly." Said it well. Just being instinctive. I have had birds sit on their eggs weeks beyond viability and hatch date and not let me near them. And other hens that would push the eggs out of their nest when they knew the eggs were beyond. Also had angels that would normally eat food from my fingers, that would in no uncertain terms attack my hands in all matters concerning their eggs and offspring.

Did it taint your affection for them? If affection is the correct term. I tried to retain my objectivity and understanding. I actually admired my angels' fierce parental guarding.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jexnell
Fishflyer said:
Didn't like because you were hurt but because of the beware value. Casper not friendly. Does he resemble the Friendly Ghost or you like the name? I named my Electric Yellow Lab-- Phoenix named After the legend. This poor fish was beat up by another cichlid. I arrived home for the tail end of the attacks. The poor yellow lab was swimming on it's side; barely and rarely swimming. I scooped him out of there and moved him to his own tank. I don't remember at the moment if I moved fish or prepared a tank with medium and water from another of my tanks. I did what I could with aqua meds but mostly he did it himself, came back from the edge. Iffy the first 2 days. Marked improvement the third day. He was eating and swimming almost normal. Acting like normal day 4. This was like a year ago. Has grown substantially. Shy but curious. Am going to look for a companion for him soon. With cichlids it is chancy getting a personality match. My LFS doesn't sell cichlids anymore will have to look at Petsmart or Petco. The manager of the latter is nice and will order for me if not in stock.
Click to expand...
Has your fish attacking you affected the way you feel about them? I have the other attacking cichlid that has never attacked me but almost killed the my yellow lab cichlid. I don't harbor him any ill will. But I wasn't too happy for sure. They both follow me around their tànks like puppies, and it isn't just food; well maybe it is. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom