Aggression Problems

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Royaldoa

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 6, 2011
147
1
0
SoCal
I have a 5in dempsey and a 6in Managuense. All my other guys are smaller or less aggressive. The dempsey and managuense can't get along at all. They both have their territories on either side of my 240g, and if one crosses the imaginary line, all hell breaks loose. I was thinking that another similar sized aggressive male ( my 2 are males ) would break things up. Any suggestions for an agressive fish that will survive with a dempsey and jag? All help is appreciated. I have no females in tank.
 
Can you trade out either the JD or Jag for another one of equal size? Sometimes it's specifcally two fish who can't get along. If you traded one, there's a chance they could at least co-hab together and you wouldn't be adding a third male into the equation. Just an idea.
 
I mean, they aren't hurting each other 24/7 but once a month or so someone gets beat the hell out of. And I wouldn't trade them out because i've had both since babies =/ i'm attached lol...
 
How many more fish do you have in the tank with the Jag and JD and what kind are they? Depending on what you currently have in the tank, boundaries and conflicts can change once the other fish mature or get larger.
 
I mean, they aren't hurting each other 24/7 but once a month or so someone gets beat the hell out of. And I wouldn't trade them out because i've had both since babies =/ i'm attached lol...

A cichlid can easily die when it "gets the Hell beat out of him"....you might not be as attached if that happens. :( Well GL, hopefully you find a solution.
 
Try rearranging the decorations every so often so they cant establish territory. This may help with the agression.
 
I don't know how rearranging decorations helps everyone but me...that's never once helped my situation. IME if two fish hate each other it don't matter where I put the decor.
 
I don't know how rearranging decorations helps everyone but me...that's never once helped my situation. IME if two fish hate each other it don't matter where I put the decor.
I agree with Balton my midas and xiloaensis hate each other to death... I have tried moving everything and they always recognize each other and start fighting ar first sight...... its if its really bad remove one....
 
I don't know how rearranging decorations helps everyone but me...that's never once helped my situation. IME if two fish hate each other it don't matter where I put the decor.

Thinking the same thing. It can be helpful in some settings but with an 8' tank it won't help much. Add something else like some tough schoolers to take the focus off. Otherwise, trade or move a fish. Best intentions don't go too far with cichlids.
 
Re-arranging and non-cichlid dithers will do absolutely nothing for long term aggression, you will have to re-home one of your fish or let them work it out as they keep growing. If you're lucky one of them will become dominant and the aggression will cease (except for the occasional chasing).
 
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