Midas Escape Artist

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pelleeklund

pelleeklund

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
May 23, 2009
1,494
425
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Pennsylvania
https://youtu.be/VbUtYRatTas

I've got my two small fish divided in my 55 and they have been paying each other a ton of attention through the partition recently. So much so that the Midas has found a way to dig below the divider and get to the other side, despite me trying to block the bottom off on both sides with rocks and slate.
I filmed some of their interactions after the Midas's most recent jailbreak in hopes that someone can tell me, based off their behavior, whether they plan on fighting to the death or if this is something less fatal. What is the dance they are doing signify? I'd rather separate them into entirely different tanks than wake up to find one dead despite my best efforts. Either way they seem hell bent on undermining the divider to get after each other, so whatever is driving them seems to be getting worse. Anyone with an understanding of cichlid behavior and interactions, your input would be appreciated very much. Would you assume based off of what the video shows that these fish are permanently incomparable. Thanks for your time.
 
that looks like the dominance dance to me
keep an eye on them but they should be cool they're just figuring out who gets the top bunk is all. I'd lose the divider and put some things in to break up the view. Maybe get some danios and loaches? Eventually you're going to have upgrade or the dominance dance will become a thing of the past- a fond memory compared to fish thunder dome
 
Yeah I was thinking they were both females, that's why I divided them in the first place. Originally the Escondido was much smaller and would have ended up dead quick without the separation. It caught up in size fast when it had access to its own food. I'm actually thinking of opening up one of the two pass throughs I have set up on the divider and loading the area next to both sides of it with plants to break up the view. Also setting up a couple of tight, one entrance caves in both areas so whoever gets chased out of one can retreat to another. I just don't want to come down and find that Escondido dead, I honestly could care less if she kills the Midas, but as far as I can tell that's not going to happen. The Midas has the edge. I'm still deliberating. I might spend a couple more weeks feeding the Escondido a more varied diet and try to handicap future battles by adding some extra size to her.
 
Your Escondito will not catch up to your midas- won't happen. Luckily it doesn't matter with good decorating. Your escondito was made for evading and hiding give him enough "fish bunkers" to run to and it won't even get shy.
I make runs for my fish. It's basically a cave with two ends so a fish can swim through tunnels of a sort to avoid being murdered. My carpintis is in a 90 with a midas, a synspilum and some EBA's. I had a male guppy living in that tank for months (I couldn't catch him and neither could they)
-Also well thought out dithers like giant danios tend to keep them distracted and peaceful.
 
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