Frustrated with JD's

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C

Curtis Rouse

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 6, 2012
522
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Central California
I've had my female 7.5" JD for about 7~8 months and my male 4.5" JD for about 5 months. Until about a month after I got the male the female was always in hiding. Then suddenly one day she started being sociable and started showing a li'l color and she stayed that way for about 2 months it was great until the male decided he wanted to be terrified of his own shadow and now they both always hide and she's lost her color... I decided that since she was gonna be a chicken I would rearrange the tank a li'l giving her better hiding spots and leveling out the sand again. She didn't like that in the slightest. She dug a huge pit again and made a mountain at the front of the tank. It's hideous... I'm contemplating just giving up on them and getting some non-cichlids. Would painting the back of the tank help her anxiety? And should I try for a dark substrate?

Tank stats:
55g
2 AC 50's
White sand substrate
Driftwood and a few plants

Tank mates:
7.5" female JD
4.5" male JD
4" rainbow shark
6 giant Danios(as dithers)
8" pleco


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All cichlids dig, and will rearrange a tank to their own preference, what suits you, doesn't matter to them.
It is sometimes due to pre-breeding behaviour, sometimes just territorial in a tank that small.
A 55 is a bit small for anything but the pair of JDs and the danios, you are pushing the envelope with the pleco and rainbow.
 
oscaroo said:
Water parameters?
Click to expand...

I'm still at work but I'll post the water params later today.

duanes said:
All cichlids dig, and will rearrange a tank to their own preference, what suits you, doesn't matter to them.
It is sometimes due to pre-breeding behaviour, sometimes just territorial in a tank that small.
A 55 is a bit small for anything but the pair of JDs and the danios, you are pushing the envelope with the pleco and rainbow.
Click to expand...

I've never had any issues of aggression from either of them. They both seem to be very passive...



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It's moreso the bioload, especially from the pleco.

Anyways digging is very natural for cichlids and leveling the sand just stresses them out. If you want to keep cichlids you have let them do their thing. If you want to decorate your tank perfectly and keep it in said state then unfortunately (most) cichlids aren't for you.
 
I think with that amount of fish the bioload is overworked.I would upgrade to a large canister, and/or 1-2 hob. Sounds like she wants to breed.size is about right, but tank tooo busy so stressing them out. I agree 1 pair is all the tank can handle

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Curtis Rouse said:
NH3-0 ppm
NO2-.25 ppm
NO3-5 ppm

I also haven't done a WC in about 3 weeks.

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Click to expand...

That will likely be your problem, You will be surprised how bad water can affect how a fish behaves and shows colour. Also i would imagine the shark is territorial and the danios are fairly boisterous and quick moving this could also be a problem with your shy jds.
 
I personally don't think its the parameters. Its just dempsey behavior. The absolute WORST cichlid to keep if you want one that isn't going to hide in my experience. I got rid of my pair. They spawned and all and still sucked. LOL I know some people love them, but most people will agree they are hiders. You could do a lot better in the cichlid world. Again just my opinion.
 
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