Hablochromis Sp. flamebacks

[Achilles1763]

Hello, so I have a African cichlid set up in a 90g tank. The stock is,

5 Kyoga flamebacks
2 fire cracker Tropeus
1 blue peacock
3 freibergs peacocks
2 yellow labs
1 Malawi eyebitter

They are all well coloured and reasonably peaceful. The issue is of the flamebacks, 2 males (I presume) have claimed half of the tank each. They are fine with the other fish in the tank but they kick the snot out of the other 3 flamebacks... this causes the poor buggers to be pinballed for one to the other! They are as a result discoloured and hang out at the surface between the 2 territories. Does this mean the other 3 are males as well and will eventually be killed? I did ask the guy in the lfs for a mix of males and females.... but as I have no idea how to sex them do I need to get rid of the 3 victims and try and get some females? Thanks for any advice.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello, so I have a African cichlid set up in a 90g tank. The stock is,

5 Kyoga flamebacks
2 fire cracker Tropeus
1 blue peacock
3 freibergs peacocks
2 yellow labs
1 Malawi eyebitter

They are all well coloured and reasonably peaceful. The issue is of the flamebacks, 2 males (I presume) have claimed half of the tank each. They are fine with the other fish in the tank but they kick the snot out of the other 3 flamebacks... this causes the poor buggers to be pinballed for one to the other! They are as a result discoloured and hang out at the surface between the 2 territories. Does this mean the other 3 are males as well and will eventually be killed? I did ask the guy in the lfs for a mix of males and females.... but as I have no idea how to sex them do I need to get rid of the 3 victims and try and get some females? Thanks for any advice.

stempy DJRansome james99

 

[james99]

This could very well mean they are all males. Very few species will allow multiple males of their on kind or that look similar. I would remove the ones getting beat on. What are your goals for the tank, all male or breeding? Adding females to one species could cause trouble with the other males.

 

[Achilles1763]

Yeah I figured as much... bit of a bugger as the chances of finding some females is unlikely to say the least!

 

[stempy]

Victorians are brutal fish. Even in my 500 I've had a single fish kill the rest of the vics. They typically leave fish from the other lakes alone but they can be lethal to their own species and other vics. Some can be fairly placid but all the flamebacks I've had have been quite aggressive. If I were you I'd just get rid of them, they are not worth the trouble imo unless you want to dedicate a species tank for them and pack them in there to distribute aggression.

 

[Achilles1763]

Thanks for the advice, sadly I always wanted flamebacks and as they result they were a present from my fiancé... so getting rid of them is less than ideal! You mentioned over stocking, if I try and get a bunch of females would that help? Or should I get some rambunctious fish to balance out the aggression? I would rather try and keep them if possible?

 

[james99]

I think with multiple males you'll always have a problem. Adding females to just the flame backs could potentially lead to problems with the other fish trying to breed with the females.

 

[Achilles1763]

Yeah I popped into my African cichlid specialist lfs and they said the same!! I have added lots more rock work to try and break up territory, which seems to have worked in the short term... long term I think the 3 sub dominant males will have to go or be killed. But will see how it shakes out... worst case I will ditch the lot and get snakeheads!

 

[Achilles1763]

Okay so I have added, 1x demansoni (the lady in the shop said he was a psycho) 1x dragon blood peacock male and 2x red tropheus... along with a load more rock. It's seemed to resolve a lot of issues. What do you think? Need more rocks?

 

[Achilles1763]

Yes and before anyone say anything I have a refugee peacock bass in there to recover after my occelated snakehead in my 220g took acception to his presence and kicked the living poo out of him! He will be going back once healed up...