Does slight overcrowding spread aggression.

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camb1988

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 20, 2010
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Sydney
Hey all. Just trying to get some juveniles together in a 55gal tank that is getting upgraded in two months to a 100gal. Have heard that adding more fish rather than less can be an effective way of spreading the aggression. Is this true or just a myth?
 
This works with Africans but not centrals.
 
Depends on the species of fish. Africans work well overstocked but i wouldnt try it with SA or CA cichlids...
 
It works with all Cichlids currently in my 100g i have...

9 x Heros Sp. Rotkeil (Red Shoulder Severum) sizes ranging from 1-4"
2 x Red Dragon ZZ Flowerhorn (Amph. Trimac x Vieja synspila) both 4"
3 x Blood Parrot (Amphilophus citrinellus x Vieja synspila) sizes ranging from 1-5"
2 x Black Jack Dempsey (Rocio Octofasciatum) both 2.5"
1 x Electric Blue Jack Dempsey (Rocio Octofasciatum) very thin 3"
2 x pink convict (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) both 2"
1 x Marble Convict (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) 2"
1 x Firemouth (Thorichthys meeki) 4"
1 x Texas (Herichthys Capintis) 3.5"
1 x Green Terror (Andinoacara Sp. Gold Saum) 4"
4 x Yellow Lab (Labidochromis caeruleus) sizes ranging from 1" - 3"
1 x Pearl Cichlid (Geophagus Brasiliensis) 4"
2 x Blood Red Jewel (Hemichromis lifalili) 2.5"
1 x Hypsophrys nicaraguensis 4"
1 x Sailfin Pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) 3.5"

All growing out to go in my 9x3x3 i am building in my wall.
 
dbcb314;4418878; said:
Glenbo, none of your cichlids seem to be adults. When they are closer to full size you might sing a different tune

I agree, especially when you get fish paring up. With sa/ca's, overcrowding can spread the aggression but I don't think it really reduces aggression. I have often seen overcrowding induce aggression with centrals.
 
well they will be in a 9x3x3 near 2000 litre tank then! (with a 5ft sump)

Plus alot have bred already, the Flowerhorns, Convicts, Severums (hence why tehre is 9, there was 2 originally)
 
I have read of this being occassionally successful but I have read a lot more about it failing. It is not something I would attempt with large aggressive cichlids at adult sizes.
To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if the success stories were all flukes from getting fish that are the exceptions to the rule of their family, much like my midas is an exception to the usual midas aggression.
 
It does work for SAs and CAs to a certain degree, but you'll have to really crowd them. A little bit overstocked is probably the worst situation. In any event, IMHO it's not an ideal way to keep and enjoy fish.
 
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