Very annoyed, some advice please.

[golcondorus]

So a few weeks ago I decided to get into rift lake cichlids. I set up a nice mbuna tank and that is going great so I thought why not try a 75 gallon peacock tank. The only non biotope thing is ,it is planted, but the ph here is 7.7 so it's fine. Anyway, I bought 7 stuartgranti mdoka juvies all about 1.5 inches and three blue dolphins of the same size. ( I know, the dolphins will eventually be moved when they get some real size) so I put them all in and the only thing all of them do is remain in tight formation at one back corner of the tank. I got some dithers in the form of 10 brilliant rasboras but that has not helped one bit. I has been three weeks and that is still all they do. They do seem to be eating which is good. Are peacocks and blue dolphins really this skittish? I am only familiar with American cichlids really. I am wondering if, at such a small size they are feeling nervous about a 75 gallon tank? I don't really want to get more since I would just have to move them in the future. So, any ideas on why they are only remaining in the back corner for three weeks?


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[jrthor_85]

I set up a 125 with peacocks and haps, and all the fish were bought at about the same size as yours. Mine tended to do the same thing. Once they hit about 3" and males starting showing some color, the males broke off from the group and started doing their own thing. The male peacocks tend to spend half their time roaming, and half guarding their turf, while the females spend the majority of their time in a loose school. The haps (VC-10, Fusco, Fryeri males) all spend their time roaming and do not have territory of their own.

Also, I have been raising some of the peacock and fryeri fry for a few months, they are now between .75" and 1.5" in a 20 tall, and they stay schooled.

What you're seeing is probably just natural defense mechinism. Even though your tank is planted, I would try to introduce some hard structure like holey rock, lava rock, or even granite river rocks (that's what I use), or some fake decorations. They'll still probably school but may roam together more until your males start maturing. By then you will need such hard structure to keep territories separate.


As far as your skittishness question: compared to CA cichlids, I'd say yes, they are skittish. Mind you my only experience with CAs are Oscars and JD's. The fish you have are immature and will probably become more outgoing as they mature and also as they learn to recognize you. When I walk into the room the fish mostly follow me around the tank, although when my 2y/o son races by they all flee. I've had mine since April or so and they eat out of my hand. The three weeks you've had yours is not that long but I'm sure they will come around to you as they grow more.

 

[golcondorus]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply. I do have a good amount of hard scape in there, it's not just plants. I did rearrange things a bit today to give more cover and added a couple pieces of fake wood for more hard scape. Hopefully they will feel more secure now. I was trying to keep it less cluttered as you always see malawi tanks pretty bare but hopefully this works, thanks again


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[Pharaoh]

It seems a lot of times have to go with a bare tank or have a pretty good amount of rocks/scape in there. Of course, every group is different. You could also watch for a dominant fish that is keeping them all in the corner as well.

 

[golcondorus]

I'm pretty sure I only have one male peacock. It's the smallest one in there and it's the one getting some yellow on its side and a couple of bright blue patches on its face. As for the blue dolphins, who knows what sex they are. I will watch for aggression, but they are moving around the increased decor more than they were yesterday so, I'm sure it will be fine


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[Allan01230]

Even though not from the same area i use giant danios as dithers. Get them as big as you can the cichlids can't keep up with them because of their speed but the danios are always out in the open and the cichlids will feel safe, my sunshine pair actually swim with the giant danios. With good lighting like my t5 setup the giant danios actually have some cool color going on. Alos a big plus the danios will not bother the Africans even if they are smaller than them. Odessa barbs also work surprizingly well and get small fantastic color on them.

 

[StevieTheG]

it will take a little more time for you to know which are males. it may look like you only have one male right now but he could just be the dominant male. subdominant males will remain drab looking, it's a natural defense mechanism (i had 4 jacobfrebergies at one point and thought i had only one male then the smaller ones started to get light coloring. i vented them and it turned out they were subdominant males!) Also, give them some time to put on some growth before they venture on their own, that's a lot of open water for fry. it's only natural they keep together to avoid potential predators

I'm pretty sure I only have one male peacock. It's the smallest one in there and it's the one getting some yellow on its side and a couple of bright blue patches on its face. As for the blue dolphins, who knows what sex they are. I will watch for aggression, but they are moving around the increased decor more than they were yesterday so, I'm sure it will be fine


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[evabug1]

I had that same problem with my dolphins for a few weeks when they were new. They were much more skittish than my other africans. Although when I increased the rockwork by 50% it seemed to help them feel more secure, because they were out of the their corner fairly quickly after that.