Extra Aggressive, or Normal?

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

I have 2 Blood Red Parrots, and a Golden Severum. The biggest blood parrot who is the tank boss seems to me to be extra aggressive. When it's feeding time he chases all the other fish away, and tries to not to let them eat. If they do eat, he lures them behind the filter and makes them stay there for hours. When I first decided to have Blood Parrots, I wanted to make it a community tank. I now want to buy angelfish but i'm scared my BP will terrorize it during feeding time, which will lead to all day. Should I get the Angels, plus i want some Bigger Tetras, Electric Blue Acaras, etc? (I also don't have a another tank to put him in)

 

[Rocksor]

This is normal for BP since they are Central American cichlid hybrids. Since it is bullying the current fish, chances are very high it will bully any new cichlids added to the tank. You have to remove the aggressor if you want to change out your fish. There is no guarantee that the BP or Severum won't do the same thing to new cichlids.

 

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

This is normal for BP since they are Central American cichlid hybrids. Since it is bullying the current fish, chances are very high it will bully any new cichlids added to the tank. You have to remove the aggressor if you want to change out your fish. There is no guarantee that the BP or Severum won't do the same thing to new cichlids.

I will now look into a calm-down tank for him.

 

[Gourami Swami]

What size is your tank? Often, that is the limiting factor when deciding to add new fish. I would say angels are a good bit more fragile than your blood parrots, and if you have that level of aggression already, they may not be a good choice.
Also, I believe Rocksor is suggesting removing the aggressor entirely. A "calm-down tank" is unlikely to work IMO, once the fish is added back to the main tank the struggle for dominance will resume.

 

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

What size is your tank? Often, that is the limiting factor when deciding to add new fish. I would say angels are a good bit more fragile than your blood parrots, and if you have that level of aggression already, they may not be a good choice.
Also, I believe Rocksor is suggesting removing the aggressor entirely. A "calm-down tank" is unlikely to work IMO, once the fish is added back to the main tank the struggle for dominance will resume.

My Blood Parrots, and Golden Severum is in a 40 Gallon Breeder now. I suggested a calm-down tank as he doesn't do this everyday. He does this at least a few times a week.

 

[Gourami Swami]

My BP's , and Golden Severum is in a 40 Gallon Breeder now.

I think this is your biggest issue, tank is far too small to attempt a community of cichlids like these. May be OK to grow them out when they are a couple inches long, but after about 4" they are too large for that tank IMO. You will have much worse aggression issues in the tight space as well. In more like a 100+ gallon tank with adequate cover and sight breaks ,you would have a much better chance. I would not attempt to add anything to the 40 at the moment.

 

[Rocksor]

My Blood Parrots, and Golden Severum is in a 40 Gallon Breeder now.

Yeah the aggressive BP can easily claim the whole 40g breeder, if you want to keep all the current fish, look into a 6 foot tank (180g). That might help reduce the aggression or it may not. That 40g won't work long term for the other BP and severum plus new cichlids, it's too small.

I did a "calm down" 55g tank for 1 year on an aggressive fish. It didn't work. It was still as aggressive as ever, and it remembered who to beat up.

 

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

Yeah the aggressive BP can easily claim the whole 40g breeder, if you want to keep all the current fish, look into a 6 foot tank (180g). That might help reduce the aggression or it may not. That 40g won't work long term for the other BP and severum plus new cichlids, it's too small.

I did a "calm down" 55g tank for 1 year on an aggressive fish. It didn't work. It was still as aggressive as ever, and it remembered who to beat up.

I have smaller BP's maybe 3 1/2 inches max. Same with my Severum. They are in this tank because I wanted to grow them out here, and then move to my 75 gallon. But, they are much more aggressive than expected. I will now look into a 6 foot long tank.

 

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

I think this is your biggest issue, tank is far too small to attempt a community of cichlids like these. May be OK to grow them out when they are a couple inches long, but after about 4" they are too large for that tank IMO. You will have much worse aggression issues in the tight space as well. In more like a 100+ gallon tank with adequate cover and sight breaks ,you would have a much better chance. I would not attempt to add anything to the 40 at the moment.

I have smaller BP's maybe 3 1/2 inches max. Same with my Severum. They are in this tank because I wanted to grow them out here, and then move to my 75 gallon. But, they are much more aggressive than expected. I will now look into a much bigger tank.

 

[Niki_up]

Kind of derailing the thread...kind of...but it was mentioned.

what exactly is a calm down tank? Like fish correction behaviour tank?

fish are not like cats and dogs...I don’t think they can be trained to not be aggressive? They cannot connect the idea with the action....I don’t think they know that “hey, if I’m an a***hole I will be put in the calm down tank. I should t do that behaviour again”...where as a cat or dog can connect the bad thing with the corrective action.

Anyone feel free to jump in and give this calm down tank some more explanation as I don’t understand it’s purpose. Why not just set the calm down tank up as it’s new home?