Update on Jack's & Texas - Need Advice on My Huge Bully!

[samnierop]

Hi All! I posted a couple of weeks ago about my big Jack that was acting weird and I was worried about it. We now call him Bert since everyone assured me Bertha was a Bert! LOL!

My HUGE Texas Cichlid - literally, she's a monster now! I've also been told Jackie looks like a Jack so we now call him Jack. I've sat in the living room for 3 hrs today working and have seen what is going on.

Someone suggest that possibly the Texas was beating up Bert (a big Jack). Well, guess what? I never thought that would be the case but it is! My Texas has been non-stop all day chasing my Jack's but mainly Bert who is all pale and worn out and has lost weight. He hardly eats unless I hand feed him because he's scared! He has been out a lot today but is being non-stop chased!

I don't know what to do. Last time this happened, I added another big fish and that's how I aquired Bert. He was bigger than anyone else and it calmed the tank down. Now that the Texas is the biggest, he just doesn't stop! Should I add another fish to possibly fight with the Texas?

Any suggestions? We have a 135 gallon tank. 2 Jack's, 1 Texas and 1 African. Previous to the Texas getting so big, they all got along just fine!

 

[fishkeeper25]

theres not much u can do but

1.get a bigger tank
2.take out either the texas or the jd
u can try adding more hiding places see if that works, u can also buy some dither fish like tiger barbs or giant danios

 

[samnierop]

Yes, that's kind of what I was thinking. My husband said today that maybe he should build some more hiding spots. I think we'll try that.

I was also thinking about Dithers......Wondering which ones would work best and if the tank was big enough. Would Tin Foil Barbs work? I'm having a hard time finding Dithers that are large enough. I tried Tiger Barbs once and they were all eaten by the next morning! lol!!!! My husband said they had an expensive Sushi dinner! LOL!! I'll see if I can find bigger ones in my local area somewhere. I think Tiger Barbs are beautiful!

I'll have to look up Giant Danios - not sure what those are. How many do you think I would have to have?

Thanks for the suggestions!!!

 

[ProblEmZ]

Tin Foil Barbs should work. Silver Dollars would work. Giant Danio's may not work, but depends on how big the Texas and JD's are. What kind of african do you have?

 

[riley699]

i had the same proplem my texas bet up my jack and my texas waz the same size so i gave my texas to my friend until my jack healed and before i got him back he bet down my friends texas and left everything else alone my texas is 2-3 inches.and yes my friends texas did die but his red devil helped.and now my texas is 2nd in command in my tank. my 3-4 inch tiger oscar rules the tank and the jack dempsey isnt chaced as much anymore.

 

[riley699]

oh and how big is your texas

 

[samnierop]

My Texas is about 10" and really tall!! We truly can't believe he's gotten so big! I'll try to get some pics posted today!!!

 

[samnierop]

JD's are 9" and the Texas is 10" and REALLY tall! I have a South African and I'm not sure what type. Not familiar with the South Africans but I'm attaching a picture! He's bigger now - this picture is a couple months old and he's grown! Much fatter and longer. About 5" or 6" now. Beautiful fish though.

 

[ctenopoma]

try some red hook silver dollars for dithers , you should post pics of the texas

 

[samnierop]

Okay, here we go! I just went & took these. Thanks for the tip on what to get. I think I'll try to find big silver dollars of some type. How many do you think I should get? 3 or 5? Would 5 big way too much for the tank?