I agree with
Gourami Swami
and
Matteus
and I think you might have already had it in mind that more fish MIGHT be and I stress might be the answer. I would suggest not being swift in your selection--meaning observe new prospective candidates' behaviors if you can for as long as you can if possible. Sounds like you need personalities that aren't shy but not ruthless either bearing in mind, as you know personality clashes with the new guys might arise, but this might displace and exhaust everyone with constant tension so that being peaceful is an easier alternative.
This is the way it happened in my friend's community cichlid tank. He is thinking about getting a new fish for his long established cichlid community, but doesn't want to change his tank around, and afraid the new fish will be beat up.
That is the other item to consider... even changing your tank's interior around your Boss and Brick are too smart and familiar with their digs and territorial, to make the newcomers less conspicuous. You probably had in mind to add more pots and add more plants.
This just happened to be my experience. I ended up with dead fish, (happened when I wasn't home.) This was with a group of size matched cichlids that started out together. I had more caves than fish. I finally ended up separating the contenders and having additional tanks as a result.
Not saying that WILL happen with you, but you might end up with more conflicts, as that can be the nature of the beast with cichlids.
You might get an Uber fish that rules, but isn't super aggressive. My small but growing golden lab that I am grooming for a larger cichlid community is in a tank with swift moving full grown white cloud mountain fish, a medium size angel fish, a large golden killifish and 4 large Albino catfish. He co-rules the tank with the angelfish which is much larger but less aggressive. He tries to harrass the Cories and White Clouds occasionally, but they they swiftly swim away and that seems to satisfy his dominance. The killifish can't outswim him but defers to his dominance. This is tank is not meant to be his long term home.
You have enough aquariums and fish personalities that you can switch around the newcomers if you have to, but sounds like you have some pretty dominant personalities all around.
I think you are doing well in constantly adding and changing the habitat interior. It has been in my experience, whether it is fish, birds, or hamsters they mostly like occassional changes and additions to their confines. New fish might be considered as new additions of interest, and new alliances and companionships might be formed. Also you deserve some new fish for all your efforts. Know too that you have friends here in this club to assist you with problems as (if) they arise.
Gourami Swami
and
Matteus
and I think you might have already had it in mind that more fish MIGHT be and I stress might be the answer. I would suggest not being swift in your selection--meaning observe new prospective candidates' behaviors if you can for as long as you can if possible. Sounds like you need personalities that aren't shy but not ruthless either bearing in mind, as you know personality clashes with the new guys might arise, but this might displace and exhaust everyone with constant tension so that being peaceful is an easier alternative. This is the way it happened in my friend's community cichlid tank. He is thinking about getting a new fish for his long established cichlid community, but doesn't want to change his tank around, and afraid the new fish will be beat up.
That is the other item to consider... even changing your tank's interior around your Boss and Brick are too smart and familiar with their digs and territorial, to make the newcomers less conspicuous. You probably had in mind to add more pots and add more plants.
This just happened to be my experience. I ended up with dead fish, (happened when I wasn't home.) This was with a group of size matched cichlids that started out together. I had more caves than fish. I finally ended up separating the contenders and having additional tanks as a result.
Not saying that WILL happen with you, but you might end up with more conflicts, as that can be the nature of the beast with cichlids.
You might get an Uber fish that rules, but isn't super aggressive. My small but growing golden lab that I am grooming for a larger cichlid community is in a tank with swift moving full grown white cloud mountain fish, a medium size angel fish, a large golden killifish and 4 large Albino catfish. He co-rules the tank with the angelfish which is much larger but less aggressive. He tries to harrass the Cories and White Clouds occasionally, but they they swiftly swim away and that seems to satisfy his dominance. The killifish can't outswim him but defers to his dominance. This is tank is not meant to be his long term home.
You have enough aquariums and fish personalities that you can switch around the newcomers if you have to, but sounds like you have some pretty dominant personalities all around.
I think you are doing well in constantly adding and changing the habitat interior. It has been in my experience, whether it is fish, birds, or hamsters they mostly like occassional changes and additions to their confines. New fish might be considered as new additions of interest, and new alliances and companionships might be formed. Also you deserve some new fish for all your efforts. Know too that you have friends here in this club to assist you with problems as (if) they arise.
