my dovii's a puss

[dmopar74]

my 7" male dovii is not what i expected it to be, he is a big puss and it realy me off. i just read a ton of threads saying they are really scared and hide alot till they hit about 12". if this is true i will keep him, ive seen alot of really agro dovii's and i love that. oh and he kills any fish i put in the tank so im hoping he will become a mean s.o.b.
any other tips to help him become a glassbanger? there are plants and a big piece of driftwood in the tank.

 

[AMG]

oh and he kills any fish i put in the tank so im hoping he will become a mean s.o.b.

If he kills every fish you put into the tank then he already is a mean s.o.b.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Can you really blame him for hiding each time he sees you coming??

Just stick with it man, he isn't mature, once he gets bigger and those hormones start pulsing through his veins, he'll bulk up and start making you happy. Waterchanges will be more fun too.....

 

[cookiemonster]

What size tank do you have him in? When I had him, he stuck to his territory (his cave). Also, if you turn up the temperature he will be more active. Once the heater broke and I didn't notice for a couple days, and all he did was hide. He was crazy agro when he was breeding (before he killed his wife), I tried to put my hand in the tank and I lasted about half a second before he attacked the crap out of me. He doesn't do the literal glass banging yet? He did it to me all of the time. Finally, I have to ask, how many fish of yours has he killed?

 

[Mystix212]

The higher temps cause fish to act in a more aggressive manner. 82 the tank!

 

[dmopar74]

hes in a 40g breeder for a a few weeks till i get a 75 for him(dont worry this by far isnt a permanent home for him). temp was at 78, yesterday i turned it up to 80, tommorow im going to 82-83 and relocating the tank from the bedroom where he never sees people to the computer room, where i always am except during work. i was getting pretty down that he wasnt agro but there is hope. i justr need some patients lol.

cookiemonster he has killed some cheap danio's(5 out of 5 lol), i wouldnt dare put any fish of value with him. hes does some light glassbanging after i sit infront of the tank for 10-20 min. but not much at all. ive just never had a fish take so long to get used to its new surroundings.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Well what do you expect him to do? Jump out of the tank? Put on a little hat and do a dance? If he kills anything that touches the water and is already glassbanging at 7" in a 40, he is aggro.

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

I have heard that the best way to help a skittish cichlid is to remove all caves and hiding areas for a couple of days, forcing it to get used to be non covered. That way it has no where to hide and will get used to that.

 

[akskirmish]

I have heard that the best way to help a skittish cichlid is to remove all caves and hiding areas for a couple of days, forcing it to get used to be non covered. That way it has no where to hide and will get used to that.

I heard this too-
But unfortunately didn't work out with my little gal-
It took putting her into a tank with other cichlids.....Now she has came out of her shell...And she is only at the 5.5 to 6 inch range....But not afraid to lock lips with my jardini,parrot and huge severum....Tries to give my pacu trouble-But he is just to big to be bothered by the dovii...

 

[dmopar74]

Well what do you expect him to do? Jump out of the tank? Put on a little hat and do a dance? If he kills anything that touches the water and is already glassbanging at 7" in a 40, he is aggro.

shure the dancing would be nice! i was just asking because my dovii doesnt act like every other dovii i have seen, which by the way were adults. not knowing what to expect at a smaller age i was wondering when he will become your typical dovii, which is practically eating glass just to get to you.