Progress with my newly added EBAs

[TUCCI]

Well it’s been 9 days since I added three EBAs and the pecking order is pretty much over. The one with the darker face chased the other two around for close to a week:


Wasn’t sure it was working out but I gave em time before acting hastily. Thought they were chilled but the chasing went on without any damage being inflicted, just chasing. The hostility abated and only happens infrequently with the 3 pretty much getting along.
The dark faced one (pic below) face lightened up with it getting somewhat larger than the two:


The other two tend to keep a careful distance with an occasional chase between them. I can’t tell but if I were to use the pecking order as a guide I’d say the bigger one is a male and the other two female but I can’t tell at this size:


I’m considering a benign dither fish addition and wondered what I could add that won’t get molested/killed for color and upper level movement?
any suggestions……..cheers

 

[TUCCI]

Oh, I have em in a 75g (4x19) tank with 7 clown loaches who aside from two are always hidden…….thanx

 

[TUCCI]

Disregard this thread peeps, it’s been beat to death in other threads…..thanks just the same.

 

[TUCCI]

Update on my addition of 3 juvenile EBAs. I would have thought 75 gallon tank would have been enough room for 3- 1.5in juveniles. Not even 24 hrs and one has already been trying to keep the other two from eating and chasing them around. Its increasing in size and of course the others 2 staying smaller. Not tearing them up just dominating them.
I took the larger dominant one and moved it and less than 24hrs the larger (not by much) took the place of the alpha fish. ?‍
Everything I've read says 3 in a 75 would be fine...i see myself removing a second ending up with just one. I should have just bought one to begin with. The unpredictability of Cichlid has always been a source of frustration. I have to resist the urge to just remove them all and get some peaceful tropicals so that my CLs can grow out in a peaceful lively tank of Rainbows or something along those lines etc ?

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

I have to resist the urge to just remove them all and get some peaceful tropicals so that my CLs can grow out in a peaceful lively tank of Rainbows or something along those lines etc

Don't fight that urge! Everyone will be better off that way!
Peaceful tropicals are far more relaxing to watch.

 

[TUCCI]

Well since I had to remove just about everything but the stump the CLs are inhabiting to get the PITA out causing stress all around I’m going to let it settle down before doing anything else. The remaining 2 EBAs will either settle down or get worse. If it gets worse, which there’s no real fin or body damage occurring I’ve got time. Also, there’s no real decent supply of livestock where I am and will need to order online. With the temperature as warm as it is, I prefer to wait till fall to do so.