Schooling and aggression ?

[Terrorizing Cichlid]

I was wondering if you had 1 schooling fish and wanted to get a school from a LFS would the new fishes accept the old one into the school or not? Also does it depend on the fish: SD, cichlid, tetra and etc.

Another question is on aggression, I read about not have the same type of cichlids in the same type because it causes conflict, but does this really contributes towards aggression; if so what characteristic contribute to aggression between for example mayan and festae, jag and mota, or other cichlid of similar features: shape, color, pattern, etc. Just some question that came up while at the LFS

 

[BushFishRox]

if it is an actual schooling fish then that would be ok, but if it is a cichlid or such it would have territorial aggression from my experience...

 

[Terrorizing Cichlid]

ok

 

[Mystix212]

Many dwarf cichlids accept new fish from the same species quite easily, yet big brutes such as Jags/Dovii/Red Devil, will commonly fight with the same species (Particualy males and during breeding).

 

[Terrorizing Cichlid]

thank-you for your reply

 

[guppy]

It does depend on the species but if you rearrange the tank when adding the fish this tends to lessen aggression by breaking up any established territories.

 

[BushFishRox]

It does depend on the species but if you rearrange the tank when adding the fish this tends to lessen aggression by breaking up any established territories.

I have heard this a lot but every time I try this it never works, I guess they recognize the same decor..

 

[ShadowBass]

Some schooling fish actually won't accept a newcomer very well, especially depending on the newcomers attitude. Usually they'll work it out though eventually.

 

[jagr200]

I have heard this a lot but every time I try this it never works, I guess they recognize the same decor..

Thats weird. I had 2 Flame Dwarf Gouramis, and 1 Gold Gourami in my tank but wanted to add a Neon Blue Gourami so I rearranged the tank and not one problem. Its kinda weird because they are all males and they are all constantly swimming together with no problems.