I know this thread is 2 years old but i can't believe you put Red Devils, motaguense and black nasty cichlids higher than buttikoferi tilapias.
Most Aggressive cichlids Top 15
- Thread starter RockyMountainCichlids
- Start date
no Midas on this list? wow ,from my exeprienec they are worse than the red devil and the trimac but that's my experience.
no Midas on this list? wow ,from my exeprienec they are worse than the red devil and the trimac but that's my experience.
Midas are more territorial than aggressive imo. Red Devils are just mean.
These threads are to my mind of no value.
There are so many variables to what can provoke an aggressive response from a cichlid.
Everyone that has commented will have kept these fish in different sized tanks,with different tank mates at different temperatures with different sex ratios and at different stages of the fishes life.
Water parameters will be different as will decor and outside tank stimulation.
As will the lineage of a particular species.
How can we possibly gage an accurate assumption.
Cichlids are not aggressive by nature, they just defend their territory and protect their offspring.
Maybe a study of how large a particular species territory is,could reveal the most territorial fish in nature?
I see no defining answer or accurate list when dealing with aquarium situations.
There are so many variables to what can provoke an aggressive response from a cichlid.
Everyone that has commented will have kept these fish in different sized tanks,with different tank mates at different temperatures with different sex ratios and at different stages of the fishes life.
Water parameters will be different as will decor and outside tank stimulation.
As will the lineage of a particular species.
How can we possibly gage an accurate assumption.
Cichlids are not aggressive by nature, they just defend their territory and protect their offspring.
Maybe a study of how large a particular species territory is,could reveal the most territorial fish in nature?
I see no defining answer or accurate list when dealing with aquarium situations.
I agree with Darren, I believe most cichlids under normal circumstances are only aggressive if they aren't in the right size (too small) tank.
I have watched a 7" pair JDs defend a territory in nature of about 4ft x 4ft x 4ft (250 gallons +).
Yet most people will say a 75 gallon is adequate, but not from my observation.
I have watched a 7" pair JDs defend a territory in nature of about 4ft x 4ft x 4ft (250 gallons +).
Yet most people will say a 75 gallon is adequate, but not from my observation.
My personal experience has been in this order...
1.) Festae.
2.) Butti.
3.) Carpintis.
4.) Mayan
5.) Flowerhorn. (I know it's a hybrid and man made, but they're still mean as all get out.)
1.) Festae.
2.) Butti.
3.) Carpintis.
4.) Mayan
5.) Flowerhorn. (I know it's a hybrid and man made, but they're still mean as all get out.)
Red Devils are mean sobs, I had a specimen that would kill new tankmates in less than 2 hours. removed every scale and plucked the eyes out of them.
dovii is ofc a built machine. Buttikoferi can beat most on that list
dovii is ofc a built machine. Buttikoferi can beat most on that list
Agree with some of the others, no cichlid is aggressive in the right sized tank, predatory yea, territorial yes.
These kind of observations are invaluable.
The meanest cichlids I've ever had were just anomalies. It had nothing to do with what species they were.
