Why wont this work? The jurarpi which is usually pretty mellow goes into kill mode when I introduce the hecklii into the tank.
Jurarpi VS. Hecklii
- Thread starter jerppyjerp
- Start date
Did you move around any decor you have in the tank? Breaking up established territories usually works with most cichlids.
the jurupari is most likely the dominant fish in the tank..and he doesnt want any newcomers..like pete said..re-arrange the tank some and see how it goes
Its a 60 gallon...and yeah he was pretty aggressive. Fastest to strike more than any other fish I've ever had!
These two fish species are too similar (conspecific) so the most dominant fish is threatened. You can either add other different species (less similar) or add several conspecific species all at the same time, disrupting the rockwork to break existing boundaries and territories. The dominant fish will still fight but its aggression will not be taken out one poor fish.
The jupari knows the heckii is in the same genus(to the fish the recognize other ques) so therefore approaches it as a challenge to its' rank. It would probaly not seem aggressive if it were an amphilophus species instead of another geophagus.
fishdance;1003082; said:
I wouldn't really consider Satanoperca and Acarichthys conspecific. S. leucosticta, S. lillith, S. daemon or S. acuticeps to S. jurupari, yes. Even Retroclus sp. look more similar to Satanoperca sp. than A. heckelii so "conspecifics" isn't really the problem IMO.
It's just a simple case of dominant fish vs. noob. They're both cichlids and that's all it has to be. A dominant cichlid that's used to being the dominant inhabitant of it's domicile will go after any introduced cichlid and whatsmore it may not even have to be a cichlid. Something that's cichlid-like, like some anabantiids, is enough to trigger such an aggressive response.
croc 2-3;1004126; said:
Fish do not recognize their own genera. If they did the Jurupari wouldn't have anything against the Heckelii cause he's know he was in Satanoperca and the heckelii was in Acarichthys. Many don't even consider Acarichthys a real "Geophagine", just like brasiliensis complex "Geos".
The heckelii and jurupari don't act very similar as it is. The jurupari just likes his tank the way it is. No competition.
If you want to add more fish to the tank you're better off trying to introduce more than just a couple of A. heckelii cause the jurupari is able to easily target them. You could try dithers like larger barbs or tetras.