I got my chocolate cichlid and synodontis catfish today. I love the chocolate cichlid. He is beautiful! But my oscar just seems to relentlessly chase him. (This is in a 125 gallon aquarium) I don't see any contact but if the chocolate swims anywhere close and the oscar notices him he chases him. I realize they need to establish a "pecking order" but when does it get serious? I really don't want him to kill the chocolate cichlid directly or either through stressing him out. Both fish are almost exactly the same size. The catfish is bigger but the oscar has shown a little aggression to him, too. If I had to trade one in, I would probably end up trading the oscar and keeping the chocolate and maybe adding a severum. Can you tell me when I need to be worried about the aggression? I don't want to overreact because I like my oscar, too. Thanks.
When is it dangerous aggression and when is it just posturing?
- Thread starter buffy1270
- Start date
It may not have been clear in my first post, but anytime the oscar notices the chocolate he chase him and nips at him. The chocolate doesn't have to be swimming anywhere near the oscar.
It gets serious when your chocolate becomes wounded.
My advice would be to remove the Oscar for a few hours and move the tank decor around. Just pop him in a bucket or suitable container. When you re- introduce him, he may behave as he is now the newbie and the pair of them can get of to a new start.
Failing this ........ your chocolates days could be numbered!
My advice would be to remove the Oscar for a few hours and move the tank decor around. Just pop him in a bucket or suitable container. When you re- introduce him, he may behave as he is now the newbie and the pair of them can get of to a new start.
Failing this ........ your chocolates days could be numbered!