Should I protect her?

[ADH_Cincinnati]

I have 1 male aratus cichlid and one female. I've had him bout a year now. Just decided to get him some company. But soon as I put her in he chased her down attacking her. Now she has no tail fin and can swim anywhere she just basically floats up and down in the tank. I know he's trying to show his dominance over her, but will he go too far and kill her? Should I put her in a protective lil net box that I have?

 

[Alex422]

Move her. My african was sitting at the top of the water with no wounds and she died that night.

 

[cgronko]

yes he will kill her, try moving the rocks and stuff around if possible so that he is not terriorial. Alot of times you want to get 3 or more females per male as the males are so aggressive and that spreads out the aggression. I would seperate them if possible.

 

[anthony martinez]

that is a male not a female thats why he is killing the other aratus. take it out before it gets killed. females have more gold that is a male barley maturing you can see on the top it is turning black. get it out asap.

 

[fishman9188]

I agree that looks like a less dominant male not a female

 

[the_fancy_gecko]

my aratus killed many other chiclids that were at least twice the size of him. i think that you should get the female out because they will just keep going at it to show dominence