Has anyone encountered chalceus being targeted/killed by other tank mates? In this instance, two have been specifically targeted in the form of overnight eyes being plucked with death obviously from trauma/stress. Both introductions were peaceful and without event, a mix of typically peaceful SA cichlids and appropriate schooling dither fish. In the first instance cause and effect were apparently misinterpreted; the first was found dead on the morning of its third day in the tank, and eyes were assumed to have been eaten post mortem. In the second instance, again with uneventful introduction, shortly after lights out, the chalceus was quickly harassed by two blue acaras. Before we could even rescue the chalceus, it lost both eyes and was near death as soon as rescued, and it was euthanized. While the acaras had typically been what passes for the "dominant" fish in the tank, the "dominance" has always been exhibited in the form of complete indifference to all tank residents. The acaras are immature, well under less than half typical adult size (both approximately 2.5 to under 3 inches in size, no pairing/breeding or even co-bullying behavior of any form. They basically have always simply hung out and eaten and rarely even turned a head towards other tank residents. The first chalceus was approximately 2.5 inches in size, the second over 3 inches in size. Zero daylight hour interaction between the 3, but within a few minutes of lights out, the acaras went on the offensive.
Chalceus Getting Attacked/Killed
- Thread starter WFDTrusty
- Start date
Not sure as I've seen chalceus in cichlid tanks w/o harm but will need to be separated to prevent any more killing.
You didn't say which Chalceus. However Chalceus from the Amazon and Orinoco, are predators which attack other fish (scales) and eat other fish.
Blue Acara also are native to the Amazon and Orinoco.
It's possible that the Acara instinctively deemed the Chalceus to be a threat. I found at least one example of severums (also native to the Amazon and Orinoco) specifically targeting and killing a Chalceus.
Blue Acara also are native to the Amazon and Orinoco.
It's possible that the Acara instinctively deemed the Chalceus to be a threat. I found at least one example of severums (also native to the Amazon and Orinoco) specifically targeting and killing a Chalceus.
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Interesting on the severums; the severums I've had over the years have never been aggressive in the least. I had considered the possible instinctive recognition of the potential threat, I found the timing and specificity of the eye attack interesting. Perhaps the chalceus eyes are more reflective/visible in low light. I was already aware of the predatory instincts of the chalceus and rhe geographic origins (I had tagged my original post, identifying it as a C. macrolepidotus).