Firemouth Hates Geo?

[dbcb314]

My firemouth seemingly hates the new Red Hump Geo I put in. I added the Red Hump and a Chocolate Cichlid at the same time.

Current stock in a 90

8 Serpae tetras
Krib
Firemouth
Chocolate Cichlid
Red Hump Geo
2 polys (tiny juveniles)

All the cichlids are about the same size (3ish inches) except the Krib which is much smaller.

Firemouth never bothers the Krib. Never hass. They both act like they don't exist.

When I put the Choc and Red Hump at the same time, they both got there "new cichlid introduction" from the firemouth.

The FM has basically stopped bothering the Choc except for the throat flairs here and there. Instead, the FM chases the Red Hump constantly, to the point the Red Hump is jumpy as hell constantly.


Is it a shape thing? The Red hump has offered zero resistance and simply turn tail and darts off.

Any experience with this? Common or no?

 

[convict360]

Firemouths are always like that, until they get a fight back which is when they turn tail and become reclusive. Annoying situation to be in, not much you can really do outside of hiding spots

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[dbcb314]

Firemouths are always like that, until they get a fight back which is when they turn tail and become reclusive. Annoying situation to be in, not much you can really do outside of hiding spots

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All the ones i have had in the past were all bark

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[duanes]

Thorichthys is the Mexican (Central American) equivalent to Geophagus, they eat in the same manner, occupy the same space, look very similar, and in these basic ways, are competitors.
To each there own, but I personally wouldn't house them together.
Also, most of the tribe Geophagini usually don't do well alone, they prefer to live in groups of their own species. Alone they usually either become hyper aggressive, or as in your case, when added to a tank with similar fish that have an established territory, end up cowering in a corner.

 

[Quo Vadis]

I'd get more Geos if you can, fi you want toe keep the FM without him stressing your geo out to much. I had my FM with some SA cichlids for awhile, and when I only had one eartheater he bothered it all the time, but when I added some more he was much better, and though he still chased them a bit he almost seemed to accept them as part of his group.

 

[dbcb314]

Not really too interested in another geo. I did a lot of reading that they can be kept in solos and I have zero interest in a breeding group.

It calmed down a bit last night so hopefully that trend continues. Maybe if I add another cichlid it will spread about the aggression a little bit. Althogh I am getting close to max capacity here.

 

[cichlidfish]

Its what you call conspecific aggression. They look a like, so see each other as competitors. Firemouths are usually more aggressive than your red humps which sound like stienys who are pretty peaceful cichlids. Firemouths can be peaceful or killers. its up to the individual. Just watch them and see how it goes.

 

[dbcb314]

Its what you call conspecific aggression. They look a like, so see each other as competitors. Firemouths are usually more aggressive than your red humps which sound like stienys who are pretty peaceful cichlids. Firemouths can be peaceful or killers. its up to the individual. Just watch them and see how it goes.

That is the plan.

What is (kinda) funny is that this Stein was the alpha ******* beast of the tank at the LFS lol. He had batterned the 5 other Steins in the tank to near death. Even the LFS owner said he was acting more aggressive than the ones he had in the past.

And then... becomes a total chicken to a firemouth of all things. I bet if he just turned around even once, the FM will be like "oh ****" and it would be all over.

*shrugs* the joy of cichlids

 

[dbcb314]

If I were to try and add another cichlid to spread the aggression out a bit... what would work with the current group (FM, Choc, Krib, Red Hump)

I am trying to think what is available to me and I know I can get the following at around the same size of the fish I have..

- Elec Blue Acara
- Angels
- convicts
- maybe a salvini
- maybe a rainbow
- other geos brais, heckli, and one other I think

 

[swifty]

And then... becomes a total chicken to a firemouth of all things. I bet if he just turned around even once, the FM will be like "oh ****" and it would be all over.

*shrugs* the joy of cichlids

Yup, it's great. I've had similar experience with my firemouth as others have. They really are all bark and no bite.

I've had him for about 20 months. He's just a bit under 4" (they are really slow growers) and I've had a variety of tankmates with him that I've either put in other tanks or re-homed:

Angelfish 2" - bullied
Striped Gourami 3"- bullied
Blue Acara 3"- bullied
Mesonauta 4" - bullied, although the mesonauta didn't care. at one point my FM charged across the tank and literally bumped into the side of the mesonauta thinking it'd swim off. mesonauta called his bluff
Green Terror 7"- ignored by the 2x size GT. had to rehome 2 weeks later because the GT took a bite at his side during feeding time. it probably wouldn't have escalated but I didn't want to take any chances
Jack Dempsey 3.5"- current tankmate, similar size, and is being bullied. im not too worried JD being stressed about it because its a friggin jack
Female Convicts 3/2" - first he was chased relentlessly by her(similar size), my next he chased her(smaller). shes now with my flowerhorn
Kamfa Flowerhorn 3" - attacked the second FM entered tank. what's funny is that the same JD that is TERRIFIED of my FM currently, stood up to that same flowerhorn and later was the aggressor. actually why i removed the JD back with the FM
Pleco - FM is scared of bristlenose. flares up, swims off and swims out of the way when pleco moves. odd.

For your list the only thing I'd try would be a rainbow. The acara may be too passive, angel will get bullied (unless considerably bigger?), salvini will dominate the tank, and cons are too hit or miss. If it's tough enough to stand up to the FM it may bully the others.