Hey guys. My p. polleni is between 4 and 5 inches; found him in May at a little over an inch, all tattered. As my various fish have grown, I have shifted around until I got to the 55 "community" tank--juvie sev (@6"), juvie bgk (@6-7"), rainbow shark 4", 7 various corydoras. All was fine until the polleni realized he could bodyslam the sev, who is my little buddy. They were all together for maybe a month or so; prior to that, he'd been housed alone as he grew, since they are the most aggressive species I have.
He's now in a 44g corner tank (odd shape, cheap) with rocks and fake plants, been there a week, and is pouting big time. Pushing the plants around, refusing to even come out for me, even at feeding. He quit eating so has gotten a small bloodworm cube (frozen) for a few days--disappeared, and I picked up frozen brine shrimp tonight--ignored.
I figure he'll get over this banishment and enjoy the solitude again, yet at the same time I'm worried. Wondering, should I get another aggressive cichlid that can hold it's own with him so he has company? (RE tanks, I'm planning on a 200-250g tank for the ghost and sev; if need be and the Black gets huge, he would go in rather than sev, who would be in 55g).
Guess I'm asking for advice on how to keep this guy happy and alive, seeing as how he's such a cool fish, not to mention the dwindling population (did tons of research). I've learned so much about monster fish from this forum's members, and by having them as babies and observing and researching (they're staggered in from April--bgk; May--p. polleni; June--sev). However, a year's worth of keeping is nothing compared to the knowledge here.
I also have Malawi peacocks and a lovely pair of n. brichardi, but that's a whole different ball game. I hope I've explained the sich enough for someone to advise; please ask more questions if you need more info. Thanks alot. Sorry for the loooong post.
~~Renee
He's now in a 44g corner tank (odd shape, cheap) with rocks and fake plants, been there a week, and is pouting big time. Pushing the plants around, refusing to even come out for me, even at feeding. He quit eating so has gotten a small bloodworm cube (frozen) for a few days--disappeared, and I picked up frozen brine shrimp tonight--ignored.
I figure he'll get over this banishment and enjoy the solitude again, yet at the same time I'm worried. Wondering, should I get another aggressive cichlid that can hold it's own with him so he has company? (RE tanks, I'm planning on a 200-250g tank for the ghost and sev; if need be and the Black gets huge, he would go in rather than sev, who would be in 55g).
Guess I'm asking for advice on how to keep this guy happy and alive, seeing as how he's such a cool fish, not to mention the dwindling population (did tons of research). I've learned so much about monster fish from this forum's members, and by having them as babies and observing and researching (they're staggered in from April--bgk; May--p. polleni; June--sev). However, a year's worth of keeping is nothing compared to the knowledge here.
I also have Malawi peacocks and a lovely pair of n. brichardi, but that's a whole different ball game. I hope I've explained the sich enough for someone to advise; please ask more questions if you need more info. Thanks alot. Sorry for the loooong post.
~~Renee
