hey guys, my name is nelson, new to MFK. I just set up a new tank with 4 afro cichlids and 1 juvenile Aro. all of them are no bigger than 4". but my dogtooth is beating up on the aro leaving a mark and a few fins gone. is there a way that i can calm down the dogtooth?
Cichlids w/ an Aro question
- Thread starter yhknelly
- Start date
Nelson,
Generally, a change in the decor of the tank usually chills out males and colonies for some time. I have to confess I am not sure what a dogtooth is, as I'm not that great with common names. A Scientific name might help a bit.
I think all other responses first will probably ask, what size tank is this and is that all that is in the tank? What species are we talking about? All four same species? Sex ratio?
I have kept Africans with South American Arowana, they actually mixed quite well as I kept the South Americans on a proper diet of surface food only. I did for a year manage to keep a Jardini with them, but after a year of maturity, fish started disappearing so I had to sell him.
If it's just a matter of an aggressive African, I can only suggest changing up the decor, but again I don't know much about what a dogtooth is really. I am assuming you've got quite a massive tank, something in the order of a 250 gallon plus? I'm also guessing a dogtooth is more like a Hap or Peacock since Mbuna really wouldn't dwell up in the same area an Arowana would.
Generally, a change in the decor of the tank usually chills out males and colonies for some time. I have to confess I am not sure what a dogtooth is, as I'm not that great with common names. A Scientific name might help a bit.
I think all other responses first will probably ask, what size tank is this and is that all that is in the tank? What species are we talking about? All four same species? Sex ratio?
I have kept Africans with South American Arowana, they actually mixed quite well as I kept the South Americans on a proper diet of surface food only. I did for a year manage to keep a Jardini with them, but after a year of maturity, fish started disappearing so I had to sell him.
If it's just a matter of an aggressive African, I can only suggest changing up the decor, but again I don't know much about what a dogtooth is really. I am assuming you've got quite a massive tank, something in the order of a 250 gallon plus? I'm also guessing a dogtooth is more like a Hap or Peacock since Mbuna really wouldn't dwell up in the same area an Arowana would.
JonV;3065736; said:
well actually my tank is only a 40gal..i've always helped my dad and friends with their tank but this is really the first time i've started my own..the dogtooth is a cynotilpaia afra..its funny u said to change the decor..cuz i rearranged the rocks in the tank and now they seem to be be ok with my silver arowana..im not too sure the sex..they're all african cichlids other than the dogtooth im not quite sure what species of afro cics they are. you think some plants may help with their mood?
Plants are often difficult to keep with Africans Nelson, as many Mbuna are herbivores, so if you happen to avoid them eating them up for food, if you are keeping the tank in Rift Lake conditions, then the plants often will suffer from the water chemistry. I haven't had much luck keeping plants in the past as either factor has wiped them out at some point. It's not a bad idea, if you can work around those two issues.
You will need a very large tank in a short period of time for that Aro too. I like the species myself, and even in the 180, I wouldn't have been able to keep them to adulthood, and usually I sold/traded the South American types at 24 inches of size, and the Jar had to go at just about 12-14 inches as he started trimming out fish. South Americans I think mix better then Jar's myself as they tend to stay right on the top of the tank, but how long you can continue this in a 40, probably not too much longer.
Sounds like you have at least 1 male emerging out of your Afra's too. If the Aro is getting targeted, probably not enough depth in the 40 and the maturing male sees it as a threat would be my guess.
You will need a very large tank in a short period of time for that Aro too. I like the species myself, and even in the 180, I wouldn't have been able to keep them to adulthood, and usually I sold/traded the South American types at 24 inches of size, and the Jar had to go at just about 12-14 inches as he started trimming out fish. South Americans I think mix better then Jar's myself as they tend to stay right on the top of the tank, but how long you can continue this in a 40, probably not too much longer.
Sounds like you have at least 1 male emerging out of your Afra's too. If the Aro is getting targeted, probably not enough depth in the 40 and the maturing male sees it as a threat would be my guess.