Hi all, I was just going through some of the dovii YouTube videos and the main theme is a bare tank. Why? I understand that large cichlids are destructive towards decor, but it’s no wonder that they’re super aggressive. I would be too if I were in a glass box totally exposed to everything. I know that the live in clear water but they still have predators that they have to hide from. Is it that they would hide a lot or be there would be less “glass banging”? Their stress levels must be through the roof! Help me to understand, I just think they’d look a whole lot better in a more natural looking aquarium instead of a bare tank with a filter. Some don’t even have substrate. If they’re as intelligent as I keep hearing, wouldn’t they be better with stimulation besides someone trying to get them to bite through the glass? Then again it is cool when a puffer blows up!
Dovii question
- Thread starter Brazzen1
- Start date
To my understanding...
In the wild, Dovii are more open water swimmers than most other Cichlids we keep. So they have less need/desire for decor.
Also, nearly every aquarium is too small for a Dovii, so it's better to give them space than decor.
In the wild, Dovii are more open water swimmers than most other Cichlids we keep. So they have less need/desire for decor.
Also, nearly every aquarium is too small for a Dovii, so it's better to give them space than decor.
I see it the opposite way. They need substrate and structure. They become glass bangers in empty tanks because their only option for safety is attacking. Their only structure to have a territory is the glass.
Yes, they need a certain minimum amount of space. But it is actually possible to house them with other cichlids, even as breeding pairs, if you provide the right conditions. And a big part of that is giving them structure to have their territory, giving them a place that feels safe for the night, giving them substrate to dig, which is a huge part of their natural behaviour spectrum etc. They may be more in the open water while looking for food but they are far away from being an open water cichlid.
My 12.5” male doesn’t cruise the tank. He stays close to his pot to retreat or rocks and driftwood. I have 9 other fish with him. 6 are cichlids and 3 silver dollars. Haven’t lost a fish. Will see as he gets bigger.
Many people keep monster fish (sting ray, Flowerhorn, arowana, Oscar, pea bass, etc) in bare tank for cleanliness as these fish produce massive waste that can be removed more efficiently by filteration and daily siphoning. For monster fish keepers, fish is the focus, not the decor, contrary to nano fish, community tank and aquascapers where decor is as much the focus as the fish.
I like bare bottom for my dovii to give more space for swimming. When in breeding mode, they become destructive to decor around. But i can see why people adding gravel and other items to make it look appealing and comfort fish. Here is an example of my set up.