I think I made a mistake buying the Hoplarchus psittacus.

[Snowflake311]

I have a Hoplarchus psittacus lets call him Kiwi. Well kiwi is 4" and in a 5' 100 gal with with a 3" EBJD and a 2" Red severum. I have only had Kiwi for a few weeks and he is getting to be a real bully. He picks on the little severum who never EVER trys to start anything. The EBJD and Kiwi get along kind of they respect eachother.

When I first added kiwi to the tank he was the biggest Wimp. My Green severum beat him up.

SO now I'm thinking I made a mistake getting this fish. He is really cool but a bit skitish and now is getting to be a big bully. I don't know what to do. I'm thinking of looking for a new home for him . I did my research On this fish before I got him I read mixed messages about some say they are NASTY others said they are laid back like a severum. Mine starting to get aggressive. Besides that he is doing awesome and getting a pink chest.

I think if he gets worst with the little severum I'm going to sell him.

Any ideas?

 

[mr72country]

sell him now before you regret it. sometimes despite all the research it just doesnt work. find him a home before he skins your sev

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[Snowflake311]

He is not that bad yet. No one has any ripped fins. Kiwi just chases the little guy for NO reason. But then he leaves the little guy alone. Normal cichild stuff but I'm afraid kiwi will get wrost.

 

[HiImSean]

maybe get a few smaller cichlds? my psittacus will chase other fish but backs down from my smaller severums and even my festivus sometimes. i'd look for a sax pike to try to keep him inline

 

[ryansmith83]

This is one of the reasons that I raise out cichlids in groups. They tend to scuffle amongst each other and leave their tankmates alone. I have six psittacus in my 150 with five severums, some keyholes, Krobia, and a few Geos. I haven't seen any aggression at all. The psittacus came to me at barely 1" but they're almost 4" now and showing the red chests. It'll be time to thin them out soon.

 

[NorCaliCichlids]

It's only going to get more aggro. That sev and your EBJD's will probably get eaten at some point as Psittacus grow to over 14" fairly easily.

 

[gazelle]

yeah i would say take it out now

 

[HiImSean]

It's only going to get more aggro. That sev and your EBJD's will probably get eaten at some point as Psittacus grow to over 14" fairly easily.

i wouldn't say the psittacus would "eat" the sev or ebjd and easily reaching 14" isn't quite true. males will reach 13-14" pushing it and females will top around 12", again pushing it.

do you have hiding spots? is the tank broken up with different territories?

 

[Snowflake311]

No my parrot will not eat my other fish. Yes I have 4 good size chunks of wood on top of eachother to make a good large hide out. Then I have some plants and rocks.

The Parrot is not very aggressive he is just getting to be a bully.yet a skitish bully. No fish are hurt and none seem to be stressed. I just fear he will get more aggressive with time. I hope they will be ok since they are growing up together.

I am going to keep him. I will try and adId my green severums again once one of them grows a bit more because right now they are the same Size. We will see if they ever get along.

 

[driftwood]

I would just leave them alone for now. I think in a tank tank that size yoy will be ok over the long run. I've kept this fish several times and they are skiddish but seldom cause any serious damage to other fish. He's probably establishing dominance over the severum and once that happens he will likely leave the severum alone. I'd be very surprised if he killed the severum.