Nicaraguense acting strange?

[Behemoth]

I am very new to cichlids. I have a Nicaraguense that is probably at the 6"-7" mark. It is taking gravel in it's mouth and stacking it in the corner of my aquarium. It's very diligent about its business. What and why??

 

[Behemoth]

Is this normal behavior? My catfish usually do not build little sand castles...

 

[Red Devil]

yes i can show you pictures of huge amounts of substate in one place and nothing in the other section of the tank..not good for under gravel filters..but they love to do the tank the way they want it..and it is an endless battle to try to show them different..perfectly normal behavior

 

[Behemoth]

Thanks Liz!!

 

[Red Devil]

Thanks Liz!!

your welcome..

 

[rmcder]

I am very new to cichlids. I have a Nicaraguense that is probably at the 6"-7" mark. It is taking gravel in it's mouth and stacking it in the corner of my aquarium. It's very diligent about its business. What and why??

My female nic and I had a running battle over this very thing. During the course of a day, she'd build up a 5-6" pile of sand, and a corresponding pit 1-2" deep. I'd smooth it all out. She'd build it again the next day. At least we both had something to do in our spare time!

 

[titansfever83]

Do they sift it like eartheaters or just pick it up and move it? What is the aggression level of Nics. I've never owned any before and I'm picking up a pair of em tomorrow.

 

[Behemoth]

He doesnt seem very aggressive at all. I have heard that they are hard to pair up (a mating pair).

I think he is just stacking the gravel and rearranging things how he would like them....

 

[rmcder]

Do they sift it like eartheaters or just pick it up and move it? What is the aggression level of Nics. I've never owned any before and I'm picking up a pair of em tomorrow.

She just moved it around. As to aggression, my female was always the largest fish and I eventually had to get rid of her because she harassed my sev and firemouth until they got fin rot (twice each). I know people say nics are relatively laid back, but mine really wasn't. I suspect that if she hadn't been queen of the tank, she'd have been ok. My sev, for example, is now boss of the tank, but doesn't feel he has to chase everyone around to prove it.

 

[Behemoth]

I think vary when it comes to aggression...I do not have much experience with Nics...I only have the one...however it is the biggest thing in the tank and there aren't any problems.