festae question on age/aggression

[freebyrd]

i recently purchased a 5" male festae and he is super non aggressive (good right?!) i put him in an established tank and he pretty much stays inside of a log, i also have not seen him eat yet so i am a little nervous as what to do. he does defend his log but he doesnt come out of it to eat or anything either. i took the log out to see what he would do and he doesnt defend himself at all he either gets nipped or runs away. so i put it back in for him to be safe. what would the best thing to do be? use a tank divider and take the log out so the other fish can get used to him?
its a 6ft 150g
2 severums
1 managuense
1 loisellei
1 really small argentea and 1 really small synspillum.
there is no aggression issues now the jag and loisellei hang out toghether the only chasing that goes on is mostly from the severums. the festae does get pretty pissed when the small vieja come near his log, or the severums even, but without the log he doesnt know what to do almost? any suggestions?

 

[jiant2520]

My Festae, the one in my avatar, was pretty non-aggr at first... well, he still really is. Even though he is the boss of the tank he does not go around trying to fight any of the other fish... they just get the heck out of his way.... they always have... even when they were all small. I would leave "his log" in the tank... after a while he will be fine. How long has he been in there?

 

[Miguel]

I have a smaller female who is the most panicky and stressed fish I have ever had. She even lies down, trembling, when fish aproach.

I do not know what to do with her anymore.

 

[fishluvr12]

You've probably got at least 3" more to go before he starts to get agressive.At least with mine it was bout 8" before he started getting agressive.And all individuals will be differen't but generally with festae they are not very agressive when young.But become agressive with size and age

 

[fishluvr12]

How long has he been in the tank?

 

[dent20]

You never really know. Depends on the individual fish in my experience. My female festae was pretty laid back until she paired up with my male Herichthys cyanoguttatus, now the two of them patrol the tank and occasionally get into it with my male GT. For the most part they aren't bad though. The worst was my Carpinti, who once he reached about seven inches started terrorizing everything in the tank. He's still living alone but would like to try him in a community again with a big enough tank.

 

[VRWC]

Mine were the same as Jiants...they never terrorized anyone or deliberately started anything, but everyone moved out of their way, always. I had large males and females in community settings without ever having a single problem, even when they paired up. It was after eggs hatched that they lived up to their name.

 

[freebyrd]

ok that sounds pretty good. ill just leave him to his log then, i just couldnt believe the big bad festae was so timid! hes 5" and hes been in the tank since friday morning, its monday night now, and still claims his log...im just worried because i havent seen him eat anything floating or sinking pellets. you guys think it would be best to leave it like it is or take the log out and divide the tank for awhile?

 

[Gatorxxx420]

ok that sounds pretty good. ill just leave him to his log then, i just couldnt believe the big bad festae was so timid! hes 5" and hes been in the tank since friday morning, its monday night now, and still claims his log...im just worried because i havent seen him eat anything floating or sinking pellets. you guys think it would be best to leave it like it is or take the log out and divide the tank for awhile?

Leave it, sometimes it takes larger cichlids up to a couple weeks to adjust to a new tank. That is most likely why he's not eating right now.

 

[fishloaf666]

Leave it, sometimes it takes larger cichlids up to a couple weeks to adjust to a new tank. That is most likely why he's not eating right now.

I agree.

ok that sounds pretty good. ill just leave him to his log then, i just couldnt believe the big bad festae was so timid! hes 5" and hes been in the tank since friday morning, its monday night now, and still claims his log...im just worried because i havent seen him eat anything floating or sinking pellets. you guys think it would be best to leave it like it is or take the log out and divide the tank for awhile?

The fish is still acclimating to the tank, some fish it takes weeks. I would leave the log in there so he has a comfortable "safe" spot. As for feedings he should open up in time, try at night time. Also try some frozen bloodworms, it is fish crack lol.