I picked up a single M.auratus juvenile today on a whim. Any chance I could keep it in a single tank with 3 J. marlieri juveniles? I know M.auratus can get aggressive when they're mating but what about a single individual? The tank is 20 gallons but I can move them to a 50 gallon in a couple of months if they can co-exist as adults.
Melanochromis auratus with Julidochromis marlieri
- Thread starter elbereth
- Start date
If its a female it may work. But even then, they tend to go nuts after they hit the 2.5-3" mark
Thanks for the info everyone. Pity it's so aggressive. Such a pretty little guy. But that's why you shouldn't buy fish on a whim...
Either I return him to the store or the other option is putting him in my polypterus tank. I've seen other cichlids kept with polys but how will this aggressive guy do? This would be a 30 gallon tank with 3 juvenile polys (10-15 cm in length) and 1 Siamese algae eater.
Either I return him to the store or the other option is putting him in my polypterus tank. I've seen other cichlids kept with polys but how will this aggressive guy do? This would be a 30 gallon tank with 3 juvenile polys (10-15 cm in length) and 1 Siamese algae eater.
Well, a 30 gallon won't be a good home for the bichirs long term, they will need something larger. I have had success keeping bichirs with CA/SA cichlids, but not sure how an auratus would do tbh. The auratus is long and slender, could see it becoming a snack if the bichirs get a little size. I have had bichirs eat slender fish that I thought would be too large. And conversely, if the bichirs are small noodles, the auratus could probably kill them if it wanted (and killing seems to be an auratus' favorite hobby)
On the other hand, I have found cichlids usually ignore bichirs, so perhaps it would be fine. Could try it and keep a close eye on them.
On the other hand, I have found cichlids usually ignore bichirs, so perhaps it would be fine. Could try it and keep a close eye on them.
I plan to move the polys to a 80-90 gallon once they get a bit bigger. Yes, I think I better not put the cichlid in their tank after all. They're definitely big enough to swallow him if they really tried.
I bought two panther crabs today. (Clearly haven't learnt my lesson not to buy fish on a whim, lol.) The auratus is definitely aggressive enough to be kept with them no?
I bought two panther crabs today. (Clearly haven't learnt my lesson not to buy fish on a whim, lol.) The auratus is definitely aggressive enough to be kept with them no?
Everybody got through the first night alright. But I'll be returning the auratus. I can't give it a tank of its own. I decided to house the crabs with my danios. I don't mind if the crabs get a nice snack once in a while.
The bigger problem will be keeping the crabs alive. The two sites that happened to come up first when I googled them in the store were seller sites and claimed you could keep multiple individuals in the same tank. That's the only reason I thought I could safely buy two. Thank goodness I didn't get three! Turns out they're best kept individually and are rather difficult to keep alive.
The bigger problem will be keeping the crabs alive. The two sites that happened to come up first when I googled them in the store were seller sites and claimed you could keep multiple individuals in the same tank. That's the only reason I thought I could safely buy two. Thank goodness I didn't get three! Turns out they're best kept individually and are rather difficult to keep alive.
