Fish aggression questions

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clekchau

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jul 26, 2006
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www.clekchau.com
So I added all my fish at once, around 20 or so ca males roughly 4" to 8", a couple 10 to 12" also. It was relatively calm for about a day, then the 11" chancho decided to get emo and harass everyone. I put him in a 150 gallon stock tank plumbed to the main display and things are peaceful again so far lol.

I have not kept cichlids in over 15 years so I have a few questions:

1. Does time out work or will the chancho eventually revert to his old self? Should I plan o a permanent wet pet home for him? My daughter loved him so I'm thinking of keeping him in the 150, would that be big enough?

2. Would fake tall plants to break up the line of sight help any?

3. Some of the fish flare and argue with no major fighting or biting, just posturing and a little chasing. When I had Africans this was normal day to day activity, is this the same for new world cichlids?

Thanks in advanced, trying to do things right!
 
Sounds like he's just becoming the dominant fish. Ive kept new world cichlids for a few years now, and there's always gonna be a dominant fish. If you take out the dominant one another will soon arise. The trick is getting a dominant fish who isn't so rough and just likes to maintain control. That being said, the small chases and few nips here and there are pretty normal day to day stuff.
hope that helps some!
 
I agree with flabbles121...hes just showing his dominance and if you take him out and put him back in later, he'll most likely just revert to his old self. And if you leave him in another tank, another fish will just rise and become the new dominant one
 
thanks guys! so how much dominance is ok and when do i need to remove, he chases but doesn't violently attack the other fish, and since there are a few fish in there (around 20 lol) no one pick is being singled out, its just weird seeing a huge 11" fish chasing others kind of scared me lol

Did I overreact removing him? Should I put him back and he will eventually settle down a little once he knows he's top boss? Thanks@
 
ok i think i will wait a few weeks, put some fake plants to remove more lines of sights and put him back, worse that could happen is i take him out and put him in an aquarium of his own maybe in my daughter's bedroom she loves him how can you not love a face like this lol

f2411f40.jpg
 
Time out doesn't work LOL. I trapped my Midas under some driftwood for a few days to try to calm him down. I've tried all sort of things taking all decor out so no one can claim a spot but an aggressive fish will always be aggressive. You can just let them fight it out and let the strong dominate. If you remove the dominate fish the next dominate one steps up. Over crowding them sometimes works putting more fish in making it hard for one fish to fight everyone. Good Luck
 
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