Survival of the toughest

[Mij]

Well, the jag definately guards his log but pretty much leaves the other fish alone unless they come too close to his log. Last night the chocolate bit the dust. By the time I got home from work he was done. The green terror and the firemouth are by far the most aggressive while I'm watching them at night. The salvini does his own thing and the jack dempsey does the same. I'm wondering if the jd will get more aggressive as it matures. Don't know for sure if the jd is male or female, it has been pretty dark in color and has good spangling on the head and gill plates, this would I believe indicate a male. I'm thinking of getting a 180g and putting in an oscar initially, let it get acclimated well, then add the jag and some dither fish. That would be all that would go into that tank. Then see if the remaining salvini,gt,firemouth, and jd would get along in the 120g. Think that would work?

Either that or just give up on the aggressive cichlids and go with less aggressive fish like different colored severums mixed with uarus and dithers. With this 120g it looks like it will not be big enough for more aggressive fish, at least a mixture of aggressive fish, and I don't think I want just a single fish to look at in my living room. I thought I could mix and match if I put all the fish in as juveniles and grew them up together, but looks like I would need practically and indoor pond to do that. I've had many cichlids before, but never tried mixing a group like this. I've seen it done before, but I think you have to get lucky for it to be successful. Oh well, live and learn as they say.

 

[lucy42083]

I'm thinking you meant to quote me in the last post?

Anyway, I agree it is tough with so many aggressive cichlids. And I am also one who doesn't want a 125 gallon tank in my living room with one fish in it. The people I know of that have kept jags usually kept them singly or in pairs, in a huge tank. Which I agree is no fun. You might have success having the JD, FM and GT in the 120? I have seen this combination work before a few times.

Or, going with severums instead would be awesome as well - they are beautiful fish and have a peaceful personality. Can't wait till I can get one myself.

Personally, I only have a tropical community tank right now, but entered the hobby with the intent of eventually starting a large SA cichlid tank. I am still thinking/ researching on it a year later. I desperately want to house a GT, Oscar, Redheaded Cichlid, and Gold Severum together (maybe with an acara?) and I don't know if that would ever work out either. Oh well, I'm still in the dreaming stage now....

 

[Hawkfish3.0]

Well, like I said, fish are as individual as you and I, try to start separating them out to save the rest.

Also, if the blue on the JD's gill plate goes to the bottom, like this:

It's a female.

If it's lightly spangled like the one in my avatar, it's a male.

 

[Mij]

Well, like I said, fish are as individual as you and I, try to start separating them out to save the rest.

Also, if the blue on the JD's gill plate goes to the bottom, like this:

It's a female.

If it's lightly spangled like the one in my avatar, it's a male.

I'll have to check it closer and see how far the spangling goes on the jd.

 

[Mij]

I do think getting another large tank and separating the fish will help. However, if you end up having 1 rogue killer on your hands, it's possible that particular fish may just have to be alone. I'm not sure I'd put the jag with the Oscar though....jag is pretty much the most aggressive cichlid by most people's estimation, and Oscars are very docile in comparison, and one of the most docile species you have in that tank. Perhaps put one or two of the more aggressive fish in with the jag?

Well, I don't know. I've seen Oscars that once they were established they didn't take any crap from newcomers in the tank. My problem is with another tank it would have to go downstairs and share space with the exercise room. I could enjoy it while working out, but right now I don't spend too much time down there otherwise. I have future plans for the space down there, but it may be a while till I can get to it. FISH ROOM!!!! Problem is in the meantime I may have some half to fully mature cichlids to deal with as far as finding room for them to breath, ya know. I have enough other tanks to house each of the smaller growing fish by themselves, but I really didn't want to do it that way. May be able to find other homes for them if I decide to go less aggressive. If you are thinking about aggressive fish, think hard and long about it and make sure you can tolerate making changes for them in case the same thing happens to you. Its a chance game trying to make these cichlids coexist with each other. I knew this going in, did what I had success doing in the past, and it might now work out in the end.