About tank aggression?? Please advise

[aykinhk]

Hi all,
Please see that photo attached from toutube
I am wondering how can people do no aggression in their tank even without any decor
Any tips? I am facing an aggression situation now
I have lots of hiding space and driftwood in my tank , but my vieja keep chasing my Oscar and my Nicaraguense Cichlid.
All of them are really similar size . Just can't alive this problem,
So should I try to make my tank without any decor ???? Please help

 

[Gourami Swami]

Hello,
I think a better solution than to remove the décor, which is what helps fish feel comfortable, is appropriate stocking. What size tank are we talking about? Vieja are generally very aggressive, some species are worse than others. Oscars are not very aggressive usually. Which kind of vieja do you have?

The tank you posted, contains what looks like a vieja melanurus, which is generally one of the least aggressive vieja. The tank also looks very overcrowded. Over-stocking like this can reduce casualties because the aggression is so spread out between fish. But the cost you pay is that cichlids in setups like this usually don't exhibit their personality, or any natural behaviors, as they are constantly looking for the next available spot to swim to, which is scarce in a tank like this.
In my opinion, a more lightly stocked tank with appropriate species and number of fish, is a much better situation for the fish than a setup like you posted, which (to me) looks incredibly cramped and claustrophobic.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Agree with everything Gourami Swami said.
Would also like to add that other than the parrot cichlid and the melanura, all the other fish are non cichlids in the pic you posted.
Most cichlids won't usually bother with characins to big to be eaten.
Cichlids will compete for territories or a mate. If you house 1 cichlid with lots of none cichlid tank mates they usually play nice.

 

[aykinhk]

Which I have is Vieja synspilum
And the tank is 125gal
They are about 7inch now both vieja and Oscar, also has a firemouth and 1 tailfoil bare 3 clown loachs as well
Is that iverstock??

 

[aykinhk]

Overstock?

 

[Gourami Swami]

Bio-load wise, you are probably fine at that stock level. But as far as aggression, with multiple large cichlids, it's really just about finding a balance that works in your tank. I would say the synspilum with the Oscar and firemouth doesn't sound like such a bad mix, but your synspilum seems to be an aggressive individual. The likely thing is that he will get worse as he gets larger, Personally I would sell the vieja and get some more peaceful cichlids to live with the more relaxed Oscar and firemouth. Maybe a few more firemouths, as they like a group.

 

[aykinhk]

Any good size South or central American cichlid ideas
Personally I pefer a bigger cichlid like over 8inch
Thanks everyone again

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Any good size South or central American cichlid ideas
Personally I pefer a bigger cichlid like over 8inch
Thanks everyone again

If this is to add to the tinfoil barbs, clown loaches, Oscar, synspilum and nicaraguense, personally I would say your fully stocked.

 

[justarn]

Yeah I agree, tinfoil and clowns get huge eventually, it's a bit of a predicament, because they are small ATM it's so easy to keep adding fish, the oscar alone will fill that tank in 2-3 years if he hits 14-15" with good care.
I would change the vieja out for a trio of larger blue acara, lose the tinfoil and get a fancy pleco that doesn't exceed 8-10".
Lose the loach purely because they grow so slowly depending on their size the oscar will likely out grow them and eat them possibly killing himself due to their pectoral spines, and they are Asian.
Replace them with 6* spotted silver dollars (smallest species ).
Then you will have a nice south american biotope setup.
Be sure any new fish are over 4" to avoid becoming a meal by the oscar.

 

[SmokeyDaScarecrow]

Any good size South or central American cichlid ideas
Personally I pefer a bigger cichlid like over 8inch
Thanks everyone again

I agree with Gourami Swami I think you need to get rid of the vieja and for your tank either a Jack Dempsey if you dont mind aggression or maybe a green terror idk apart from that.