Top spot in my tank.

[Jc1119]

Have you not read my other posts? We have 17 now, including, 5 x 55, 75 and 150 gallons tanks. Each one is cycled up and ready to go.

If they are all cycled and ready to go, then put the jags in the 150 split up the remaining JD's and gt's between a couple of 55's and sit back and enjoy the hobby......

To answer your question about females running a tank, I can honestly say my tanks have always been run by the largest fish which has always been a male. At some point your males may challenge your female for control of the tank.

At some point aggression will become an issue. As they mature, lack of space will dictate that. A 55 can be fine for a growout, but you don't have long before your going to need to use your "cycled" tanks to rehouse some fish.

Best of luck!

 

[koltsixx]

I've noticed that on a number of your threads and posts that you have come off very defensive or dissatisfied with member comments. Most people are just trying to help you. If you build a bad reputation on here you will find it hard to get any helpful answers to your posts. I know that you have just come from another site that you met criticism and maybe some rude comments, but carrying that over here will just start you on the wrong foot again. Just ignore the comments or members that you feel are not helpful. You are getting answers to the questions that you have asked. You have a few conditions in your tank that effect one another. That's why you are getting the responses that are being posted. Females can often be more aggressive than males, especially if they mature faster than the other males in their tank. If they are ready to breed they will challenge the strength of males to see which is suitable to breed with. This can be viewed by some as aggression. The same goes for maturing males too. Fish of the same sex may attack or kill others to get rid of competition for breeding and territory. The dynamics will change as all the fish mature, males get larger, and territories are made. This can fluctuate depending on the species that you ultimately keep together. Jags are typically more territorial than they are straight out aggressive (most of the time). This is something that you will see as they become older and larger. And I have seen Jags spawn at 5". Green Terrors and Jack Dempseys can go either way, aggressive or passive. But IME Green Terrors are more aggressive than Jack Dempseys. My JDs of the past have all been shy and reclusive. But there are a few members that have experienced the complete opposite. So will your fish become the nasty fish that you have been reading about? Well, that's hard to say. A lot depends on how they are kept and with what they are kept with. Personally, I believe that your most aggression will come from a breeding pair of Jags and GTs. I hope this answers at least some of your questions. I wish you the best in the hobby. And enjoy MFK!

Extremely well said!!! ^^^^ I agree the OP seems to be defensive and unsatisfied with anyone's post that questions the tank conditions of their fish, or asks if proper plans for their eventual necessary upgrade's or possible removal of stock are being made. They've even gone to the point of creating multiple threads about the same question since they were dissatisfied with the answers they got in this their original post. Even the title of the other thread comes off as annoyed "I still don't have an answer". Personally I applaud you Gruff Master on your patient and intelligent response, though I fear it falls on deaf ears. They mention 15 tanks as possible re-homes, but no mention of stock in said tanks. They also state one minute that they're very knowledgeable one minute and then say they have no experience with these paticular fish the next. So why wouldn't they want some helpful info. on their fish and their potential aggression and adult sizes and requirements. Also I believe it's common knowledge that cichlids are aggressive and that even a female can be the alpha in a tank. It just depends on species, size and natural aggression levels ie: a Festae female will more than likely be more aggressive than a say a Pearsei male and probably become the Alpha if the Pearsei is smaller. Heck even if he's larger she may become the Alpha, to answer the OP's question. Also as stated by Gruff Master, if you want a enjoyable and educational experience on MFK you need to be open to suggestions and to the wisdom of fellow keeper's who are experienced in these kind of fish. We all should strive to be open to learning so we can be a better person tomorrow than we were today, that's what life's about growing everyday.

 

[Allan01230]

Bottum line is cichlids will be cichlids and anything can and will happen. I have kept fish all kinds for many years and finally settled to a 85 with a colony of geophagus. I got sick of the take no prisoners central American cichlids that killed chased and constantly mamed each other. I keep my geos with fancy plecos and roseline sharks. I still have an adult male grammodes in a 50 breeder by himself that is gorgeous and mean as hell but still he's my favorite fish. Good luck with your fish.

 

[joshntarri]

Extremely well said!!! ^^^^ I agree the OP seems to be defensive and unsatisfied with anyone's post that questions the tank conditions of their fish, or asks if proper plans for their eventual necessary upgrade's or possible removal of stock are being made. They've even gone to the point of creating multiple threads about the same question since they were dissatisfied with the answers they got in this their original post. Even the title of the other thread comes off as annoyed "I still don't have an answer". Personally I applaud you Gruff Master on your patient and intelligent response, though I fear it falls on deaf ears. They mention 15 tanks as possible re-homes, but no mention of stock in said tanks. They also state one minute that they're very knowledgeable one minute and then say they have no experience with these paticular fish the next. So why wouldn't they want some helpful info. on their fish and their potential aggression and adult sizes and requirements. Also I believe it's common knowledge that cichlids are aggressive and that even a female can be the alpha in a tank. It just depends on species, size and natural aggression levels ie: a Festae female will more than likely be more aggressive than a say a Pearsei male and probably become the Alpha if the Pearsei is smaller. Heck even if he's larger she may become the Alpha, to answer the OP's question. Also as stated by Gruff Master, if you want a enjoyable and educational experience on MFK you need to be open to suggestions and to the wisdom of fellow keeper's who are experienced in these kind of fish. We all should strive to be open to learning so we can be a better person tomorrow than we were today, that's what life's about growing everyday.

I think you have misunderstood some things I have said. I have raised cichlids in the past, I do not know everything and welcome all the help I can get. I research every fish before I buy them. I have always had male fish as the alpha and was asking a simple question I thought. I was not trying to create a big debate. I am not being defensive or anything else. We are 2 people. I did create 2 threads on the same question because I did not get one in the first. As far as my other tanks, we have 4 that are empty but running, one has fish we are selling and 3 are quarantine tanks at the moment. We have pics posted on here you are welcome to look at I am very confidante in my fish's health and happiness. It makes me sad that some people don't read everything I post and this is the kind of response I get. Thanks for calling me deaf ears and telling me I will not get help in the future. I will be fine and so will my fish I will move on to another site if need be but I doubt I will ever find one that makes me feel welcome without some making me feel inferior. Thank you Tarri

 

[joshntarri]

If they are all cycled and ready to go, then put the jags in the 150 split up the remaining JD's and gt's between a couple of 55's and sit back and enjoy the hobby......

To answer your question about females running a tank, I can honestly say my tanks have always been run by the largest fish which has always been a male. At some point your males may challenge your female for control of the tank.

At some point aggression will become an issue. As they mature, lack of space will dictate that. A 55 can be fine for a growout, but you don't have long before your going to need to use your "cycled" tanks to rehouse some fish.

Best of luck!

Thank you that is what I was thinking. I have never had a female rule before I was kind of thinking it might be because she was the only female but I don't know. I think there are no rules when it comes to cichlild. Tarri

 

[AcsFoolMike]

I think you have misunderstood some things I have said. I have raised cichlids in the past, I do not know everything and welcome all the help I can get. I research every fish before I buy them. I have always had male fish as the alpha and was asking a simple question I thought. I was not trying to create a big debate. I am not being defensive or anything else. We are 2 people. I did create 2 threads on the same question because I did not get one in the first. As far as my other tanks, we have 4 that are empty but running, one has fish we are selling and 3 are quarantine tanks at the moment. We have pics posted on here you are welcome to look at I am very confidante in my fish's health and happiness. It makes me sad that some people don't read everything I post and this is the kind of response I get. Thanks for calling me deaf ears and telling me I will not get help in the future. I will be fine and so will my fish I will move on to another site if need be but I doubt I will ever find one that makes me feel welcome without some making me feel inferior. Thank you Tarri

This is you NOT being defensive? Tarri, you really shouldn't take the things people say in response to your questions so personally. Everybody is just trying to help, and koltsix is right--if you keep being so defensive and belligerent, people are not going to want to give you advice anymore. Just relax and take it all in stride. If you don't like someone's response, just move onto the next one. To answer your original question yes, as the Dempseys, Jags, and GTs grow they will almost definitely become more aggressive. I agree that if the 150 is up and running that you should transfer the fish over there sooner rather than later.

 

[AngryCichlids]

Thats y the dempseys are controlling the tank. GT's arent very aggressive wen ther small and the things should be fine untill the fish get to around 4-5 inches then you will start to hav problems. Untill then just choose your favorites and sell the rest

 

[koltsixx]

I think you have misunderstood some things I have said. I have raised cichlids in the past, I do not know everything and welcome all the help I can get. I research every fish before I buy them. I have always had male fish as the alpha and was asking a simple question I thought. I was not trying to create a big debate. I am not being defensive or anything else. We are 2 people. I did create 2 threads on the same question because I did not get one in the first. As far as my other tanks, we have 4 that are empty but running, one has fish we are selling and 3 are quarantine tanks at the moment. We have pics posted on here you are welcome to look at I am very confidante in my fish's health and happiness. It makes me sad that some people don't read everything I post and this is the kind of response I get. Thanks for calling me deaf ears and telling me I will not get help in the future. I will be fine and so will my fish I will move on to another site if need be but I doubt I will ever find one that makes me feel welcome without some making me feel inferior. Thank you Tarri

Interestingly enough you've proven my point here in your response. I never said anything about you never getting help in the future. As a matter of fact if you look at my response I give you the benefit of the doubt and answer your question and compare you to all of us in this forum in the fact that none of us know everything and we should all welcome the chance to learn from others experience. How ever you've proven me right by being defensive about my comment as well as several other comments on here. In one thread you've managed to accuse several people of not reading your threads and complaining about the responses you've gotten. Yet not one person on here has claimed your ignorant or inferior, they've simply offered advice. So if your construding simple suggestions about the future welfare of your stock as a personal attack how would you define that if not unnecessarily defensive? Before anyone even had a chance to try and make you feel inferior you posted this

This is Josh of joshntarri. Just wanted to say how much I love Central and South American Cichlids. My favorite of all are my Oscars. We have 6, 2 albino, 2 red tiger, 1 red and one who is black and grey. Next in line are my green terrors, 3 of them, and my 2 jaguars. Just want to be upfront right from the start. These are my fish, and I know them. On another forum, people just had to run their mouths. They were always saying my terrors would kill everything, if the jags didn't kill first. I am so over people telling me how my fish are. I don't want that happening here. So far, I like this forum. Just keep your opinions about my fish to yourselves.

Sounds defensive to me and your basically telling a public forum don't try to inform or educate me, just answer the specific questions I ask. In my experience public forums aren't about keeping opinions to yourself. Here's another example someone was trying to be helpful and you just accused them of not reading your other posts. Which by the way are in other threads and it's kind of strange that you'd think someone would read every thread you ever made before giving you advice on a current thread you've asked a question on.

The jags are somewhat mellow when juveniles, but as stated already they become more and more aggressive. IME they typically tend to run their tanks if housed with the fish in ur stock list. In a 55 gal the mix is not likely to last too long, so I'd suggest u start making arrangements for when things turn for the worst. Try getting some ditthers too. And btw welcome back!

Have you not read my other posts? We have 17 now, including, 5 x 55, 75 and 150 gallons tanks. Each one is cycled up and ready to go.

I personally have been keeping fish since I was 14 and I have no problem taking advice from people even unsolicited advice, because I'm fully aware I don't know everything. I welcome input that might benefit my fish keeping skills and I don't feel inferior, just because a suggestion is offered to me. How ever you took my advice which did answer your question, but stated that we all should strive to be open to learning as a attack at you or me calling you inferior. How does me suggesting we're all on the same level and would all benefit from knowledge turn into me calling you inferior or saying you'll never receive future help?

 

[ShadowP]

I think you have misunderstood some things I have said. I have raised cichlids in the past, I do not know everything and welcome all the help I can get. I research every fish before I buy them. I have always had male fish as the alpha and was asking a simple question I thought. I was not trying to create a big debate. I am not being defensive or anything else. We are 2 people. I did create 2 threads on the same question because I did not get one in the first. As far as my other tanks, we have 4 that are empty but running, one has fish we are selling and 3 are quarantine tanks at the moment. We have pics posted on here you are welcome to look at I am very confidante in my fish's health and happiness. It makes me sad that some people don't read everything I post and this is the kind of response I get. Thanks for calling me deaf ears and telling me I will not get help in the future. I will be fine and so will my fish I will move on to another site if need be but I doubt I will ever find one that makes me feel welcome without some making me feel inferior. Thank you Tarri

 

[ShadowP]

I .Personally I applaud you Gruff Master on your patient and intelligent response, though I fear it falls on deaf ears

hink you have misunderstood some things I have said. I have raised cichlids in the past, I do not know everything and welcome all the help I can get. I research every fish before I buy them. I have always had male fish as the alpha and was asking a simple question I thought. I was not trying to create a big debate. I am not being defensive or anything else. We are 2 people. I did create 2 threads on the same question because I did not get one in the first. As far as my other tanks, we have 4 that are empty but running, one has fish we are selling and 3 are quarantine tanks at the moment. We have pics posted on here you are welcome to look at I am very confidante in my fish's health and happiness. It makes me sad that some people don't read everything I post and this is the kind of response I get. Thanks for calling me deaf ears and telling me I will not get help in the future. I will be fine and so will my fish I will move on to another site if need be but I doubt I will ever find one that makes me feel welcome without some making me feel inferior. Thank you Tarri

No one said you were "deaf ears"... what was said was that he fears the info may fall on deaf ears. It is incumbent upon you to either accept the advice or not accept it. You are amongst friends here who will try to help you the best they can according to the information you provide. We are all human. Sometimes the information provided is interpreted one way by one member and yet another way by others - and sometimes simply missed when trying to track all the parameters provided.
Simply put... you are responding. Obviously your "ears" aren't deaf. MFK is designed to help us help each other.
Case and point... There's probably one member who is upset that my opening comment on her diagram for a filter hose and sump system (as provided by her engineering grad friend) was "DON'T FOLLOW THE DIAGRAM. IT'LL DRAIN YOUR TANK!!! Or I could start a thread on undergravel filtration and half the members here will be against them (preferring their canisters/wet dry/or hang on back types, but did you know that a proper gravel bed on an undergravel filter will even house bacterial colonies which REMOVE NITRATE!!! and complete the nitrogen cycle?
You are being defensive; and so am I - each of us expressing a viewpoint on a topic.
In the realm of possible answers, you are guaranteed to recieve just about any possible answer. Ignore any responses or place less consideration on them if the responder missed what you considered a key point in your query, or better yet... lets all carry ourselves in a deMEANor (pun intended) that is amicable and helpful to all by communicating in MANNERS which build the friendships and make for enjoyable reading for all.

The power of MFK is in the knowledge base, and not necessarily in the "perfect" communication skills of the members.

PSST... Welcome to MFK.