Karma for eating tank mates !

[Adam GR]

Following an advice I’ve added few weeks ago fishes from my grow out tank to my main 120G long. Everything was good until last night, I heard splashing and I noticed tail sticking out of my sunshine peacock. His prey was my smallest peacock - probably around 1.5in, I net him and I tried to rescue this fish but I couldn’t get it out of his mouth.
Today I found my sunshine dead? thats sad he was one of my best coloured fish, but lets be honest - karma got him quickly

 

[A201]

I've seen that sort of thing before. Lol. That certainly dispels the myth that Peacock Cichlids are peaceful.

 

[jjohnwm]

Plenty of fish are peaceful, but predatory. They're not picking fights, they're just eating.

OP, once a fish has another fish in its mouth that far...especially a fish with spines, i.e. a cichlid...trying to get it out is likely to do far more harm than good. The spines, either locked in the up position, or laying backwards, make pulling the small fish out of the mouth a difficult proposition, and attempts to do so can cause significant damage to both specimens. Once it's in that far, just write off the little guy and hope the big one makes out okay.

 

[duanes]

All cichlids have 2 sets of jaws, the obvious one you can see, and the other set of pharyngeal jawsin the throat (similar to Alien).
Beside the spines of the victim doing damage to the predator(as mentioned by jjohnwm), by trying to pull the victim out you may be destroying parts of the inner jaws of the predator as well.

 

[Adam GR]

Plenty of fish are peaceful, but predatory. They're not picking fights, they're just eating.

OP, once a fish has another fish in its mouth that far...especially a fish with spines, i.e. a cichlid...trying to get it out is likely to do far more harm than good. The spines, either locked in the up position, or laying backwards, make pulling the small fish out of the mouth a difficult proposition, and attempts to do so can cause significant damage to both specimens. Once it's in that far, just write off the little guy and hope the big one makes out okay.

I just give him a little shake similar to striping female and I was hoping he will spit out little one. His mouth was extremely stretched and it looks like he over estimates his potential.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Why did you put a 1.5” fish with him in the first place?

 

[Adam GR]

Why did you put a 1.5” fish with him in the first place?

Because I was advised on this forum that is better to add them in the main tank then growing them in too small (19gal) tank - alright mate?

 

[fishhead0103666]

That’s the bad thing about forums, anybody can give their opinions and people don’t always agree. I would have said to grow them out some more and then use a divider perhaps when you moved them.

I’d say get a 40 breeder for growing out fish and keep it simple.

 

[Adam GR]

That’s the bad thing about forums, anybody can give their opinions and people don’t always agree. I would have said to grow them out some more and then use a divider perhaps when you moved them.

I’d say get a 40 breeder for growing out fish and keep it simple.

I think you right, but to be honest it wasn’t that bad decision, I’ve added in total 6 juvis and 5 of them quickly put a bit of size and become to big to consume (in my opinion). They are about 2.5in, only this unlucky one stays around 1.5in, bigger tank certainly helps them grow. Another big benefit - with this 6 extra fish tank become much more peaceful.

 

[A201]

I have better luck introducing juvenile or smaller fish into the main tank. It seems that most of the established adult cichlids ignore the smaller ones.
Predators like the Fusco & Livingstoni do their best to make a meal out of new arrivals, but my XL rock hardscape usually provides plenty of cover.
An occasional loss due to a predator is to be expected.