Cichlasoma salvini conspecifics

[cambrew]

I recently purchased 3 Salvini cichlids to go with my female with the intention of forming a pair. I have ended up with 3 males and 1 female. If I were to chose not to have a pair and remove the female from the tank has anyone ever had success keeping multiple males in a community tank or do they tend to beat on each other pretty badly?

TIA

 

[mrrobxc]

They will still beat on each other.

 

[robham777]

Even females will beat on each other.

 

[cambrew]

Thanks I suppose my only 2 options are have a breeding pair or keep one of the males and add a couple of tank mates.

 

[JakeAlmighty]

they're going to beat each other up no matter what.

Even with a breeding pair I believe you can expect a lot of aggression towards the female. (to the point where they are sometimes separated after spawning for a period of time to preserve the life of the female)

 

[cichlidfish]

I think it depends on tank size. I've seen multiple salvini kept together. Smaller tanks it won't work. In fact Bas Pels on the Cichlid Room Companion suggested keeping a small group (3-4) of young male salvinis as dithers for h. Deppii in a 150g. I respect his opinion greatly.
In nature, salvini do not live in groups though.

 

[JakeAlmighty]

I think it depends on tank size. I've seen multiple salvini kept together. Smaller tanks it won't work. In fact Bas Pels on the Cichlid Room Companion suggested keeping a small group (3-4) of young male salvinis as dithers for h. Deppii in a 150g. I respect his opinion greatly.
In nature, salvini do not live in groups though.

in a big enough tank I could see it working because they will just live separately in their own territories. do you have a link to the info you mentioned? I'd be interested in watching/listening/reading. Is the group of dither male salvinis intended to stay together long term in that tank in the situation he describes?

 

[cichlidfish]

in a big enough tank I could see it working because they will just live separately in their own territories. do you have a link to the info you mentioned? I'd be interested in watching/listening/reading. Is the group of dither male salvinis intended to stay together long term in that tank in the situation he describes?

I agree a large enough tank, but I'm not 100% certain it would work in a 150g. He did say small with a lot of hiding places. Hiding places are important for salvini. They do seem to base their territory on it unlike my
meeki who pick a certain area of the tank.

http://www.cichlidae.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18970