Questions about mixing americans with africans

[oii]

I just slowly added all of my fish from my 30g in my established 55g long tank with my 3 newest babies.

This is what order I added them in..

had these in there..
2texas's 1.5" each
1jag/texas hybrid 1"

from the 30g
1tilapia buttikofferi 2.5"
1convict 4"
1JD 6.5"

everything was going smooth at this point (really smooth actually) and then I added my last fish from my 30g. 1green jewel 2.5." All hell broke lose, my butti just started attacking him for about 5 minutes, then I had enough and took out the butti after 15minutes of chasing him around.. I was chasing him around and he was still attacking the jewel every time he swam by him even while he was dodging my net, it was insane. I'd never seen a fish go out of their way so much to beat on another fish. The strange thing about these two fighting is they were the only 2 africans in the tank and they didn't have a problem with the americans at all. I chose to take out the butti over the jewel because the jewel thinks hes a american cichlid anyways and the butti pissed off about half of the tank while he was attacking the jewel.

I'm just wondering.. Why do they get along with all the americans but not one another? I no longer believe in the "don't mix africans with americans" rule. I'm dumb and started keeping africans with americans since day one and I've never had a problem with them. The only fish I've ever even had a problem with are the africans fighting each other, they're so random and moody. Has anybody else had this same problem when mixing fish?

from what I have learned.. I hate my africans. If anybody wants them.. I'm in SE michigan (Howell.) You have to give me something useful for them though or make me a offer. I have 2 peacocks, 1 green and turquoise jewel, and 1 buttikoferi. My kenyi which was just about the only one I liked just got fryed by my heater

 

[oii]

my butti's punishment for being a .......... is a 10g tank with 2 stupid peacocks.

 

[Jkoziatek]

all ur gunna go is stress him out and kill the fish... dont punish him... u put the lil jewel in there

 

[oii]

all ur gunna go is stress him out and kill the fish... dont punish him... u put the lil jewel in there

they've been getting along problem free for a good 18 hours. The peacocks hate the jewel, they don't get a long at all. I tried putting them with my kenyi and jewel the first day for food.

 

[HPIZZLE]

hey do u think my 7.5 inch JD would hurt a 4.5 inch african cichlid?

 

[oii]

hey do u think my 7.5 inch JD would hurt a 4.5 inch african cichlid?

from my experience I would say yes they will get along but it all depends on the fish's personality themselves. You just have to try it, everybody else will tell you not to mix americans with africans but I've never had a big problem (I've always had spare tanks if something were to go wrong though.) If you're talking about buying a 4.5" african then no I wouldn't suggest buying something if you don't know if its going to work unless you have a spare tank set up for him already. Like I said though, if you don't try you will never know. What kind of african cichlid is it though, and what size tank?

 

[AMG]

hey do u think my 7.5 inch JD would hurt a 4.5 inch african cichlid?

Depends on the African. If it's a Mbuna, then the JD is most likely going to get dive bombed and have torn fins left & right.

 

[mbhw]

You have a terrible mix in a tank that is too small (only 55 g).

The butti will get huge quickly and destroy anything it swims with, the jewel is the only fish that will stand a chance with the butti, but only with tons of hiding spots.

The big dempsey & convict may kill your small terrors & texas.

Oh, and "punishing" a fish for exhibiting natural behavior doesn't work. My assumption is you are young, so I would suggest checking out fish profiles before purchase for the future. Good luck and I hope your tank works for you, but the butti has to go!