Aggression issues in a 55 gallon

[Stanzzzz7]

Some things are just personal experience, doesn't make them absolute. I've kept single Mesonauta (they called them all festivum at the time and didn't distinguish the species we do now) in a tank with discus, a mated pair of large angelfish, a laetacara or two, various tetras, driftwood, lot of plants, etc. No problems at all. Sure, the angelfish would guard a corner of the tank when they spawned; the other fish learned to keep a respectful distance, no big deal. The female angelfish and one of the discus benevolently ruled the tank (large 'dinner plate' gold pearlscale angel, a type available years ago that I never see anymore). The Mesonauta didn't bother anyone.

So I don't agree you must keep Mesonauta in groups, I've seen or kept various combinations. I've also kept plenty of angelfish singly, in pairs, or threes and fours, and so have numberless others. One nice tank I had was four large, wild angelfish, pair of rotkeil severums, some red head geos, some guianacara. Only troublemakers were the guianacara fussing with the geos, so I moved the guianacara-- perfect. So, again, it can be done. Individual fish differ, plain and simple. It's often a matter of hitting the right combination of individuals, or not, that makes the difference. Couldn't tell you how often I've seen the same species described as peaceful by some and aggressive by others. Sometimes it's individual fish, sometimes it's what else is in the tank-- aggression tends to be relative.

What I do agree with is tank size. You can crowd the fish we're talking about in a large enough tank; by crowd I don't mean crazy overstocked, I mean a busy tank with a lot going on. But in my observation, there's something with some heroine types (angels, mesonata, severum types-- discus not as much) in too small a tank that makes them feel crowded and gets them more aggressive.

I've taken "killer" angels or severums off people's hands that were in too small a tank, put them in larger tanks and had them be peaceful citizens. Not foolproof, many cichlid species vary by individual and you can get an unusually peaceful one or an unsually surly one you can't do much with, maybe put them with larger, tougher fish they have to respect.

Long post but one more thing. Sometimes you can divide a problem fish in the same tank (some tank size needed again) with a divider that lets him see the other fish, or the particular one he's got a problem with, and just let time go by, don't rush it, and eventually they'll accept each other's presence and you can put them back together. Not foolproof, but I've had success with it.

Totally agree with all of this.
Just saying they choose to live in large groups in the wild so may be happier like this in captivity. Can you keep one singly?Yes you can but angels and festivums are naturally social grouping cichlids.

 

[neutrino]

Can you keep one singly?Yes you can but angels and festivums are naturally social grouping cichlids.

Agreed. And it's one thing to have a nice, simple tank including an angelfish or two vs. a shoal of wild angelfish in a big beautiful tank. Or a nice rotkeil severum as an addition to a new world tank compared to a 6' tank with a group of 8 or ten of them (something I've done). Or even a green terror or two compared to a large tank with 10-12 big, beautiful gold saum rivulatus, something an aquarium shop I used to go to in Florida had back in the day.

Tanks like that give you a different dimension, different behavior than just one or two individuals, and a whole different impact as a display.

 

[AudriSampson]

Well just an update, My pair was rehomed to a 125 tank. I did decided to try cichlids again and went with a group of Rainbow Cichlids. Picked one brightly colored male and then 4 gray ones.. (Hopefully all girls) The seemed much smaller and my research was saying that they will defend territory but not as relentless as many cichlids. Also have started uping the water changes doing a 50% for this week's change.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Well just an update, My pair was rehomed to a 125 tank. I did decided to try cichlids again and went with a group of Rainbow Cichlids. Picked one brightly colored male and then 4 gray ones.. (Hopefully all girls) The seemed much smaller and my research was saying that they will defend territory but not as relentless as many cichlids. Also have started uping the water changes doing a 50% for this week's change.

In my experience raibows are great little fish. Not nearly as aggressive as most similarly sized cichlids. I think you will enjoy them

 

[duanes]

I agree with Gourami Swami, a 125 should do well for the multispinnossa.
I grew out a group in a 65 gal, and at about 3"-4" moved them to a 400 gal kiddy pool, where they paired up (7 pairs) and all began spawning at once, with little aggression (except eating each others eggs).