Might have to get rid of my GT

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G

GregRM

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 1, 2007
205
0
16
Toronto
Hi All,

I started keeping Cichlids a few months ago. Did my research. I have a 90 gal with 1 O 1 GT and 3 SDs.

The tank was made or bought as an O tank. THe GT is gorgeous 90% sure he is a male. However the O as expected has grown a lot faster and has turned into a real ba--stard. He has taken the tank as his territory, doesn't bother with the SDs but has a system devised to keep the GT from gettiing to the top to eat.

I was thinking of maybve geting some sinking food but the GT is pretty frightened most of the time. Their still juvis but the o would be around 7inches now and the GT only 4.5. I've seen the O take a couple homicidal dives at him and seen battle scars only 3 times and it's been nothing serious.

They started in the tank at the same time.

When is the right time to consider separating the fish? I only have room for one tank so it's back to the LFS unless I can get someone interested in him from the GTA.

Maybe it's too early to give up but if this O teenager thing turns worse I worry for the GT. He's really running scared all the time.

Any advise? I'll try to post a couple pics on this thread later.
 
yeah an oscar will do that, if you oscar isnt letting the GT eat i think now would be a good time to separte or maybe add a divider. so the gt can be alone and then grow and catch up in size
 
I'm maxed out on tank size fro my apartment. the divider is interesting what would I give the GT a third of the tank or something.

He does manage to eat some but... his stress level must be through the roof thinking he's going to get mauled if he gets close he seems even afraid when the O isn't looking.

He's a mean SOB but I've only seen real attempts at the GT's live a couple times. The rest of it has been just chasing (until the GT puts himself in a corner then the O dives with mouth open).

Maybe an inch or two on the GT will make him a little braver.
 
Hey, I replied to your post on O'fish. Like I said before, your GT isn't going to 'catch up' in size. They just grow too slow. Your oscar will be 12 inches + and will want the whole tank to himself before the GT is even 6 inches. IMO, you'll have to upgrade, or return one.
 
The GT isn't bothering the O (anymore he was nippy before).

It's only the O that's a problem.

Could I introduce a dempsy in their at this point. Even if the dempsy was less agressive wouldn't he just get picked on more?

I'm starting to think that perhaps it's buy buy GT for a couple more SDs. :(
 
The GT will never catch up in size to the O. You could try the divider but eventually you will have to make a decision a larger tank an additional tank or 1 fish or the other.
 
GregRM;916067; said:
Could I introduce a dempsy in their at this point. Even if the dempsy was less agressive wouldn't he just get picked on more?
Click to expand...

I think you can add one and they should get along better but every cichlid is different so it's not 100% for sure. They do make better tankmates in general though so the odds are better imo. Good luck whatever your decision.
 
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