Time to break up my fish

[pennyg]

howdy! several months ago I started a 120g with 2 small juvie oscars, juvie red shoulder severum and a chocolate cichlid. they have been growing up and now I am at the point of needing to separate at least the severum from the others. I am cycling a 55g for the severum because it is fairly easy going and the others boss it around and it doesn't much care for what I feed the other little monsters anyways.
I am wondering if I should also remove the chocolate cichlid. It actually pushes back at the oscars quite frequently and gets them to back down. But the oscars argue with each over space it seems and have even locked lips a time or two. and so I wondered if I took the chocolate out if that would help some. or if I just have oscars that will always bicker. the chocolate and severum shouldn't both be placed in the 55g, right? I could get another 55g set up once I fix the center support on it.

 

[tlindsey]

howdy! several months ago I started a 120g with 2 small juvie oscars, juvie red shoulder severum and a chocolate cichlid. they have been growing up and now I am at the point of needing to separate at least the severum from the others. I am cycling a 55g for the severum because it is fairly easy going and the others boss it around and it doesn't much care for what I feed the other little monsters anyways.
I am wondering if I should also remove the chocolate cichlid. It actually pushes back at the oscars quite frequently and gets them to back down. But the oscars argue with each over space it seems and have even locked lips a time or two. and so I wondered if I took the chocolate out if that would help some. or if I just have oscars that will always bicker. the chocolate and severum shouldn't both be placed in the 55g, right? I could get another 55g set up once I fix the center support on it.

Your still going to have dominance and behavioral problems if you put the Chocolate and Severum together in the 55 gallon.

 

[pennyg]

Your still going to have dominance and behavioral problems if you put the Chocolate and Severum together in the 55 gallon.

Thanks for your reply. Agreed, the chocolate and severum wouldn't be good together. My question is essentially would removing the chocolate cichlid from the oscar tank improve the situation with the oscars? I was not thinking about placing the severum and chocolate together because of the difference in aggression they are showing. I could get another 55g set up for the chocolate cichlid but I wondered if 55g is big enough for it and also if it would even be worth it if it would not improve the fighting between the oscars. I realize aggressive fish are going to be aggressive at some point. I was just wondering if removing the chocolate would help the oscars find a better balance for territory in the 120g.

 

[tlindsey]

Thanks for your reply. Agreed, the chocolate and severum wouldn't be good together. My question is essentially would removing the chocolate cichlid from the oscar tank improve the situation with the oscars? I was not thinking about placing the severum and chocolate together because of the difference in aggression they are showing. I could get another 55g set up for the chocolate cichlid but I wondered if 55g is big enough for it and also if it would even be worth it if it would not improve the fighting between the oscars. I realize aggressive fish are going to be aggressive at some point. I was just wondering if removing the chocolate would help the oscars find a better balance for territory in the 120g.

Yes remove the Chocolate and hopefully the situation with the Oscars get better.