Female cichlids attacking males?

[Plum7]

I wondering how often does it happen that female cichlids attack injure or kill male cichlids of the same species or different species regardless of size? I have 8 blue dolphin moorii cichlids 3 being male and 5 females. 3 of the females were bought from a different source and they are slightly larger and older than the 3 males at 5-6 inches and i believe they are nearly full grown females. The males are around 4-4.5 inches each. From time to time 1-2 of them will do a slight chase or nip at the males. One of the smaller males nipped at one of the larger females and she attacked him back in defense. I'm guessing because the males are smaller and younger they will likely not breed with these larger females since usually females are almost always smaller during breeding? or anything can happen depending on conditions and personality of the fish?

I see and hear usually mostly Male kill Female, Female kill Female. Any input would be appreciated thanks.

 

[A201]

Every Cichlid is individual & has its own personality. Behavior can't be typecast.
I recently transfered my female Nimbochromis Fuscotaeniatus to a reserve tank. She is very aggressive & kept the much larger male Fusco pinned under a big rock on the opposite side of the tank.
The male Fusco now patrols the entire tank.
In general I think an aggressive female is a good thing. Just another avenue for keeping aggressive males in line.

 

[duanes]

If a female is more dominant than any male in the tank, this is quite common.
I have had females kill males after spawning, like when a quartet of Tomocichla tuba, where the larger female killed two smaller males before spawning with the largest male, but killing him soon after the spawn.
Same happened with a pair of Vieja zonatus.
You often hear about males killing females, because females are generally smaller, and females will chose males instinctually determining that larger male will better defend a brood.
But in the confines of a tank, those heightened spawning hormone are not diffused by fighting off fry predators, so may end up focusing at the partner of the pair.

 

[Plum7]

Ah makes sense but have you guys ever had larger females ever spawn with a younger smaller male ever before or usually not? Majority of spawning videos female is usually smaller. When I first got into cichlids majority of the cichlids I selected were female so I mostly got females killed or injured other females. Now I have a better mix of both sexes still more female because you want less males from fighting supposedly but seems like my females I get can get pretty nasty too at times.

 

[jcarson]

I have quite a few females become a tank boss and terrorize larger males. I never thought it would happen but when I saw it for the first time and the again and again I have summarized that while maybe inconvenient that it is a part of tank life.

I have also had larger females spawn with smaller males but I have seen that the smaller male must come into his own and be comfortable or confident enough to spawn.

I have also read that some females who display this dominant behavior is a very natural occurrence as females in the wild will usually only breed with males who are dominant enough.

I dont know, Im still trying to figure this all out too. (If that is possible)

 

[BIG-G]

I’ve had similar experience has the others.
Most of the time it was large female spawn with smaller male and kill the male after spawning.
I’m assuming that it was instinct to defend the fry and went on a rampage.

 

[jcarson]

I’ve had similar experience has the others.
Most of the time it was large female spawn with smaller male and kill the male after spawning.
I’m assuming that it was instinct to defend the fry and went on a rampage.

I never thought of that.

 

[Plum7]

i have another smaller female dolphin which is the smallest of the group of dolphins and i thought she would be chased around more but she actually holds her own very well and i had seen her nip at both male and female fish that were bigger than herself. She even semi attacked the larger male livingstoni as well.

 

[Plum7]

interesting to know some females do terrorize larger males I had not yet seen such a dominant female yet. Of course it depends on the fish and their personality as well. Most species recommend extra females to a single or 2 males i have 3 peacocks and 2 are female and one female attacked the other female to claim the male for herself and that female seems also very territorial as well she patrols a certain area and does chase other fish out at times regardless of male or female.