Dovii being bullied

[eyebrowz]

Hi all. I finally managed to get hold of a decent sized male Dovii (pretty damn difficult in the UK) last week. He's in the 6x2 with a large 11 inch Black Belt cichlid. At first there was a little lip locking but nothing out of the ordinary. Now the Dovii (ten inches) is being bullied by the Black Belt to the point where he never comes out of hiding! He literally wedges himself into the gap between some bogwood and some rocks where the other guy can't fit and stays there all day. He's not fed for the last 4 days either as he refuses to budge!

Is this normal behaviour? If I need to give him the tank to himself I'll do it and sell the Black Belt, but it should be big enough for both to cohabit surely?

 

[DREWSMITH]

Not uncommon for the new guy to hide IMO. Besides BBs and dovii inhabit the same area naturally they will bicker and fight like they would in the wild. I would give the dovii some time to acclimate and maybe a rearrangement of some tank decor to offset the aggression if the BB.

Bottom line give the dovii some time as long as his fins aren't shredded and he isn't getting beat up he will eventually eat. Be prepared for the aggression in the future from these two.


Drew

 

[Ryan144]

That's not a title you see everyday. In the long run you're probably going to have to split them up anyway. What size tank is it?

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[doviione]

Give it time, he'll come out, but tank size is important.

 

[allvol]

bb's can be pretty tough also especially if it was his tank first

 

[samarth raipal]

See, first put partition ur tank in half for few days.keep dovii in one and black belt in one.then feed dovii for 2-3days in partition.then open partition and them dovii will see that black belt who is the boss

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[jagsandpits]

Dovii being bullied?? The world just stopped spinning. Lol that tank is too small for those two beasts to ever coexist.

 

[RonnieRon1]

i would take them both out for a little bit, rearrange the landscape, then put them back in, you may have a Dovii that just isnt aggressive. even doing that, if the BB is very aggressive he will assert himself over him anyway regardless of what you do. the solution may be to split them up.

 

[Reaper13]

See, first put partition ur tank in half for few days.keep dovii in one and black belt in one.then feed dovii for 2-3days in partition.then open partition and them dovii will see that black belt who is the boss

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This is the best idea by far. I'd use some egg crate like you use on lights. I know it's hard to believe, but he's only 10" which isn't that mature by 20-24" fish standards. They usually start getting aggression around the 10-12" mark though. Divide the tank and let him get comfortable then you won't have a probably.

FYI your black belt is on borrowed time. Once that dovii realizes it can take the BB it's as good as dead. I'd rehome or find another tank for it if you like it.

 

[eyebrowz]

Thanks for the advice all. Given what's been said I think I'll rehome the BB. I've wanted a Dovii ever since I started keeping cichlids so am happy to let him have the tank to himself if it means keeping him happy and healthy!