Firemouth help!

[Bigtunamtl]

Hello,

Longtime reader here. I've decided to post because I need some help.

I have 2 new Firemouths which are too young to sex. 1 of them chases the slightly smaller FM any time he comes within his line of sight. The smaller bullied one just hides behind one of the filters or in the top right corner of the tank most of the time. He/she seems very afraid of the bully FM. My question is: should I rehome one of the FMs? If so, which one? More hiding places? If I do choose to rehome one of the FMs, which single centerpiece-ish Cichlid can I replace him with?

I currently have 13 Tiger Barbs (mixed), 3 Torpedo Barbs (> 2 inches), 1 Striped Raphael, 2 young Firemouths (~1.5 inches) and 4 Nerite Snails. I plan on upgrading tank size once fish get bigger (mainly the Denisons). The tank is lightly planted but with many caves and structures.

Checked water parameters this morning and everything is perfect. PH at 7.2, water temp at 26C.

 

[Bigtunamtl]

BTW tank is a 45 gal long.

 

[Jexnell]

Firemouth prefer to be in groups much like Tetras do. When in a proper group size, the aggression is spread out over the group and not all on one fish.

I would get at least 4 more Firemouth so the aggression is spread around, and you can see the real Firemouth group dynamics.

 

[Bigtunamtl]

Firemouth prefer to be in groups much like Tetras do. When in a proper group size, the aggression is spread out over the group and not all on one fish.

I would get at least 4 more Firemouth so the aggression is spread around, and you can see the real Firemouth group dynamics.

Interesting. My research has led me to believe that you don't want to keep too many of them together for fear of aggression. Admittedly, I do not have experience with FMs as I have mostly stuck to Tiger Barbs (love em).

Thank you for the advice!

 

[Jexnell]

I had a group of 10 of them in a 6ft 125.

4m 6f

The males split the tank into four sections and each claimed one. Occasionally there would be gill flair battles, but no real fights. The females in mass would swim from male to male checking out who's best.

 

[Bigtunamtl]

While we're discussing my tank, I have 4 very young Green Tiger Barbs quarantined in a 10 gal. I wanted them to grow a little in the 10 before I add them to the 45. Of the 9 TBs in my 45, two are bigger (~2 inches) while the rest are about half that size. The 4 in my 10 gal are 2/3 of an inch at most. Should I keep them in the 10 gal for a while or would it be okay to add them to the 45 now?

 

[Jexnell]

Let them grow out some, I would anyways.

 

[duanes]

Firemouth prefer to be in groups much like Tetras do. When in a proper group size, the aggression is spread out over the group and not all on one fish.

I would get at least 4 more Firemouth so the aggression is spread around, and you can see the real Firemouth group dynamics.

I agree, although Thorichthys can live as a pair, in that situation both must be close to equal in status, otherwise the more subordinate one usually ends up tortured, or dead.
Thorichthys are the Central american equivalent to many Geophagus, which usually also do best in shoals.
A shoal 4 or 5 would be a much better situation, although I consider a 45 gal a bit too small for their preferred way of living as a group. And will definitely be too small when they become 6"-8" adults, although they tend to grow slowly.