Fish not getting along all of a sudden..

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
1

1309mw

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 15, 2008
45
0
0
North Carolina
Someone in my 75 gallon tank has suddenly decided that they do not like others in the tank. I am aware that some of the fish in the tank arent the best to go with the others but they have been very content for the past year. Up until the past week there have been no signs of fighting.
Tank:
2 Jewel Cichlids
1 Peacock Cichlid
5 Albino Tiger Barb
4 Tiger Barb (these have grown faster then the Albino Barbs)

The Chiclids stay on the side of the tank where there are plants, moss and decorations. The barbs stay on the open side of the tank.

All 5 of the Albino Barbs have chunks of tailfin missing and one has an open wound on his side. None of the larger Barbs have any signs of being attacked.

I am not sure weather the larger Tigers are beating up on the Albinos or if the Cichlids are coming over and attacking. The Barbs all stay in a school and swim around each other rarely wondering off the the other side of the tank. I have a 30 gallon that i can put the Barbs in but if the larger Barbs are doing the attacking that will not solve the problem. I guess im to the point where i may transfer all the barbs and see what happens. If anyone believes they have any insight on weather it is the larger barbs beating up on the smaller ones or if the cichlids will cross the tank and approach the school and attack them. I dont see anything happening so im assuming its at night that this is happening. Would the cichlids all of a sudden attack the small barbs after living peacefully for a little bit over a year now?
Thanks.
 
Lots of times fish especially cichlids get aggressive when tank space is at a premium. How big are the cichlids? Are the jewels a pair? They will get aggressive is they arer preparing to spawn. The barbs are tail nippers so that could be part of the problem but doesnt really address the 1 with a wound on its side.
 
The cichlids are around 4 inches long. The have maintained the same size for quite some time now.
The jewels are not a pair. I have bred and raised jewels a few times and these 2 have never had the signs of being a pair. One of the jewels has been a parent before but not with the same jewel that is in there. The colors, behavior, nesting have never looked like they have when watching jewels pair off before.
I forgot to mention that i also have a 5 inch gourami that looks very good and has not been attacked but he stays at the top of the tank and seems to be in his own world.
 
fish especially cichlids are very territorial,,,,,,this is what i do for mine and it works,,,,,every week while doing my water changes i rearrange all the rocks plants caves everything,,,,,by the time the look for another space to "control" you should be rearranging again the change of scenary confusses the hell out of them and takes the time for aggression away
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom