Fight night

[Dalfrey86]

Did some scaping and the BP thought the African cichlid was to blame for the chaos...

I don't want to jump in too soon but this BP has been a pain in the rear to house. I have a solid minute long video of the African mouthing the BP despite the BP continuing to circle the African.

 

[Dalfrey86]

Some still shots from the video. Can't seem to upload the file on here so this will have to do.

 

[DJRansome]

I would not expect them to get along.

 

[Dalfrey86]

I'm a little thrown off because they were getting along just fine until last night.

Flipped the lights on and they are back at it again. No scale missing but time will tell today.

 

[Gourami Swami]

How many other fish and what kind of fish are with them?
When you re-do the scape, you are resetting the territory, and now they have to fight to decide who goes where. Also if there are no other cichlids in the tank, 2 tends to be a bad number, as one will be victorious and bully the other.
Also possibly an issue of tank size. I wouldn't really expect a BP to work with african cichlids in anything under a 75 gallon, long term. That would be about minimum imo.

 

[Dalfrey86]

How many other fish and what kind of fish are with them?
When you re-do the scape, you are resetting the territory, and now they have to fight to decide who goes where. Also if there are no other cichlids in the tank, 2 tends to be a bad number, as one will be victorious and bully the other.
Also possibly an issue of tank size. I wouldn't really expect a BP to work with african cichlids in anything under a 75 gallon, long term. That would be about minimum imo.

Makes complete sense. I had the BP in with 4 other African Cichlids. He would bully the jewel cichlid and prevent her from eating. The plan is to put the African back with the other 3 cichlids and move the BP to a community 75 gallon or 125 gallon. He might be a lone fish for a bit until I get that one set up.

 

[A201]

IMO, the BP doesn't have much of a chance long term with a group of African Cichlids.
Its deformed mouth puts the BP at a distinct disadvantage in a lip lock battle.

 

[Magnus_Bane]

IMO, the BP doesn't have much of a chance long term with a group of African Cichlids.
Its deformed mouth puts the BP at a distinct disadvantage in a lip lock battle.

A lip lock battle, yes, the African will win everytime just do to a closing mouth but most BP's I see don't tend to go for lip locking. Most BP's tend to go for head butting contests but it doesn't seem like that's the case for OP's.

 

[Dalfrey86]

A lip lock battle, yes, the African will win everytime just do to a closing mouth but most BP's I see don't tend to go for lip locking. Most BP's tend to go for head butting contests but it doesn't seem like that's the case for OP's.

What's strange is that this is the first mouthing incident. Most times in the past it was just chasing. The BP would be the instigator in a tank of 4 other African Cichlids. First time the BP got a taste of a defensive attack.

Interesting is all, posted the photos so other would know what a mouthing session looked like.

 

[Magnus_Bane]

What's strange is that this is the first mouthing incident. Most times in the past it was just chasing. The BP would be the instigator in a tank of 4 other African Cichlids. First time the BP got a taste of a defensive attack.

Interesting is all, posted the photos so other would know what a mouthing session looked like.

The African probably tried to fight the BP for dominance in the tank. I assume it would be do to their similar sizes and the fact that the BP has a bright color, so the African, probably male, seen the BP as a rival male, whether it is or not. The African probably got to the point where it felt confident enough that it could dethrone the BP as the dominant male of the tank.