territoriality

[lovespunaround]

I recently got two small Jack Dempseys and put them in a 20 high. One of them took to nipping at the other, so I got a third (I heard from several sources that it was a good idea). The nipping stopped, but the one fish (Monterey) was still the boss and would chase the other two away from his caves.

A few days ago, I got a 29 from a friend and I decided to put my Jacks in there. I figured with more bottom area and more overall swimming area, Monterey would no longer push the other two around. I even set up the rocks and clay pot caves so they were at different ends of the tank and facing away from each other so a fish couldn't see another fish in another cave. Well, Monterey decided he'd claim the whole bottom of the tank. And not only did he push the other two away when they came near, he'd swim up to them when they were in the opposite corner of the tank and he'd push them around. The other two also started fighting with each other over their small territory next to the filter. I took the fish to a pet store so now Monterey is the only one I've got.

Any thoughts as to why there was more territoriality/aggression when I moved them to a larger tank?

Owen.

 

[danny boy]

you need a larger tank theres no question about that! its probably the main reason why they are fighting. they didnt name this fish after a great boxer for no reason!

another idea might be to empty the tank of any rocks or anything the fish can claim as its 'own' this can stop aggression in malawis although i dont know if it would work with JD's

 

[lovespunaround]

I wasn't planning on keeping them in the 29 forever...it did surprise me though that they were so much more aggressive in a larger tank.

Your bare-tank idea sounds good. I guess it doesn't matter now since I've only got one Jack but it's definitely worth considering for any aquariums I might start in the future. thanks!

Owen.

 

[Fry]

it's not uncommon to have a cichlid completely claim a tank as it's own due to aggressiveness, my texas and oscar both have their own tanks

 

[gomezladdams]

A jack makes for a great one fish tank.especially if its a male good looking and great personality

 

[starrfish71]

sometimes I do the opposite- I over crowd them so they just give up fighting for space. For a while.

 

[HarpoGarza]

sometimes I do the opposite- I over crowd them so they just give up fighting for space. For a while.

I dunno.... That works with my Africans, but I tried that with Convicts a few years ago and a blood bath ensued.

 

[Fry]

i've heard of controlled overcrowding with great filtration, the only concern i have about that is it would limit all of their growths

 

[ROSS]

to keep most fish from fighting nothing but a lite layer of substrate ... unless you divide the tank .. or you get lucky and get fish who get along ... all fish have differant personality's I think you would have been fine if you got rid of the caves and plant's , it will be a plan tank but you will have some beutiful fish in there !!... IMO I'd rather a plan tank then a beutifuly decorated tank with no fish alive or fish torne to $hit...

 

[posteo]

if you want 2 JD go with 1 male 1 female if you want 3 go with 2 females the female looks nice to just alittle smaller