I have a 33 gallon tank that got completely re-stocked over the past couple of weeks. I added a couple of clown loaches first, then silver dollars, and finally I added three African cichlids (not completely sure what kinds, I read them at the store but forgot them by the time I got home, one yellow leopard print cichlid, one that is dark beige/brownish with black stripes and the third was a white with 3 black stripes but also had a tiny bit of blue going through him. All fish are roughly 3". I was content with the stock I had at the time, but after visiting a lfs today I seen an electric blue cichlid that myself and my girlfriend couldn't say no too. He is around 4.5" .. so a bit bigger than all other fish I had bought already but we ultimately decided to get him anyway. I also forgot the name of this cichlid but I know it was electric blue and the name started with an M (if it helps?). Up to this point all other fish got along perfectly, all basically schooled together. When I added the bag with this new cichlid most fish stayed away from the bag but the white with 3 stripe cichlid was right next to it looking at each other the whole time. Once I finally released the electric blue cichlid into the tank he settled in fairly quickly and after a few minutes he started chasing almost all the other fish in the tank away except that one fish, they have been chasing each other around a bit and everytime the white cichlid gets close he goes towards the eb's underside and the eb cichlid just starts to shake everytime as if he was afraid .. then goes and chases the other fish away again. When I really started looking at the two fish I'm realizing it is possible that they could be the same kind but one is electric blue. Is anyone able to tell me whats going on there (first time with cichlids).
Newly added cichlid behavior?
- Thread starter Acura_RSX
- Start date
Okay the Blue fish you are talking about was probably purchased at petsmart? Becuase they label their fish as male electric blue cichlid. Sounds like the other fish might be a venustus and a frontosa if those names ring a bell. The Electric blue is chasing the other fish to establish dominance. I would add a couple of caves so they can hide/ establish territories. Also when they shake they are usually trying to impress the female. The fish you are describing might be a electric blue female, but I have no way of telling. Could you please post some pictures? Good luck.
Actually I bought this fish at a locally owned fish store. Really good spot. The owner was working and told me the name. It was also listed on a chart he had there. It started with an m but I don't remember. The other is not a frontonsa. Those were available as well but much more expensive. I'll post pics or a video shortly. I was wondering if that was the shaking. I understand the chasing and dominance part already but the shaking was new. Meaning they could possibly end up a pair?
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Ya that is probably just a sign of mating the male trying to impress the female. Other than that you are good watch out though if it is a johanni because they tend to become very very aggressive when they get a female. I have had fish die when I added a female until I removed her. Good luck
Shaking is typically a display of dominance towards lesser fish. My alpha male P. johannii does this all the time when smaller fish get in his way.
Few pictures of them, the white and black cichlid looks blue as well when under shade.
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
that's a venustus the green splotched one and the blue is an electric blue ahli/ electric blue cichlid. There's some clown loaches a silver dollar and the blue striped one is probably a kenyi cichlid not sure on the orange with black splotches though. The tank looks amazing! The electric blue was probably just establishing dominance. Good luck on the tank because as of right now it is incredible!
black and white stripes is a female Maylandia lombardoi. green one is a Nimbochromis venustus. brown and black looks like a Placidochromis milomo. the blue one is some sort of male Aulonocara hybrid