Killer Salvini and... What?

[rmcder]

I have a gorgeous 4" female salvini in a 30" 30g tank (per my signature). I'd like to be able to put something small in with her, but nothing I've tried can stand up to her. I've tried a previously-dominant 6" ebjd (only because I had to get it out of my 75g), and a 5" male hrp. Each lasted one day and I had to rescue them. I tried the sal in the 75g tank, and she chased everything in the tank into a corner (ever seen 3 6" clown loach and 3 5-6" ebjds huddled together for safety?).

I think she'd be ok with something that would stand its ground, but at the first sign of weakness, she'll hound the other fish night and day until she gets rid of it. I'm wondering if a red jewel might be able to hang in with her? I frankly can't think of another option (other than maybe a small pike). The tank size won't allow for anything big, and I'm really not interested in getting rid of my ebjds so she can have the 75g tank. Worse comes to worst, she stays a wet pet, I guess.

 

[cichlidfish]

I'd just keep her alone in that 30g. If she is that aggressive in a 75g, then she will only be more so in a smaller tank. Getting a fish that can stand up to another means fighting and one fish may get killed or injured.

 

[HiImSean]

how bout a male salvini

 

[CTU2fan]

how bout a male salvini

That's my vote.

Jewel or con might work but really what you'd have is a standoff type situation with both fish on their guard. I'd try a male sal or some small schooling type fish or livebearers that she might not care about.

 

[SusieQ]

Hi there.. I had a very beautiful but very aggressive female salvini also. She was in a 55 so slightly bigger tank... She killed all the other SA or CA cichlids I tried to put in the tank. (JD, FM etc) Even took her out for a week and redecorated and then put her back after the new guys were established made no difference.
The only things I found that worked.. not at the same time.. but once I had it set up with large tiger barbs and she was fine with them... another time.. I'm gonna get flamed for this.. but it worked for over a year.. africans.. I had the tank set up with acei and yellow labs and the salvini and they all did fine.. Now I don't know what would have happened in a much longer time frame, but the level of aggression matched and no one was ever hurt.. The africans were young so that may have affected things also.
You might first try the barbs if you like the idea.. They get to 2 1/2-3 inches so if you can find them that way and do a school of at least 6. Or you can grow them out in your 20 gallon first...Other than that I'm thinking non cichlids..IMO No way are you gonna be able to keep a pair of sals in your tank.. they are just too unpredictable.. If I were you I would search CraigsList and get another tank for her HTH Sue

 

[Donny417]

I have 3 female salvini's and they do just fine with a large festea, managuense, and JD's.

Unfortunately, you need more fish in there but the tank is too small to support it.

 

[Petrella88]

my red jewel is Smaller and calls the shots when it comes to the Salvini and the Jag but the jag is smaller and not yet a tough guy

 

[rmcder]

The only things I found that worked.. not at the same time.. but once I had it set up with large tiger barbs and she was fine with them...

Interestingly, her first overnight kill (at 1") was a 2" tiger barb whose stomach she then ate. She may still tend to think of them as midnight snacks! As it is, despite my sig below, I'm down to one giant danio; the other two ended up partially eaten over a couple nights. It's common to hear splashing in that tank during the night!

another time.. I'm gonna get flamed for this.. but it worked for over a year.. africans.. I had the tank set up with acei and yellow labs and the salvini and they all did fine.. Now I don't know what would have happened in a much longer time frame, but the level of aggression matched and no one was ever hurt.. The africans were young so that may have affected things also.

I thought about that as well, but I'm concerned about the veggie vs. meat thing. I have a friend who is expert with Africans; maybe he'd have a suggestion; worth a conversation - Thanks.

 

[rmcder]

how bout a male salvini

I considered that, but I'm not sure that the larger male would be comfortable in that small a tank.

 

[HiImSean]

if you have the pair in the 75g that would be great for the two