Wolf in a community?

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TimTheBadass

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Nov 5, 2007
1,213
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Wales, UK
I've just moved my 9" Malabaricus from his 48x18x18 to a 7 foot tank with my south american cichlids.
Is this a bad idea? The tank contains two 10-12" peacock bass, two 10" oscars, an 8" uaru, two 6" severums and two 7" wood cats.
So far he seems okay. He's a bit wary of the larger cichlids and is showing no signs os aggression.
Is he likely to be fine or will he unleash the fury when I'm not looking?
 
First night in the tank and so far he's behaved. He actually seems quite intrigued to be in a much bigger tank with fish his size. The only thing he does is flare his gills at the severums as they swim past and ignore him.
Fingers crossed this works.
I know there's some very experienced wolf keepers so let's hear your views.
 
ive heard of them being ok with CA in very large tanks might work with SA you never know it might just work good luck i hope it all works out
 
It's really 50/50, cross your fingers and hope for the best - it all comes down to the individual fishes personality, some fish are more excepting of other fish, some are just plain intolerable. When my Mala was approx. 12" I put him in a 180 w/ a breeding pair of downright nasty Red Terrors @ 12" and 8", my Mala went right after them and was pretty much relentless for approx. 30 min. then kinda cooled out however the next morning he owned the tank. The terrors hung at the surface in a far corner. I actually thought it was gonna be the other way around - Terrors would have him in a cave but nope. Back then the Mala wasn't anywhere near as robust as he is now @ 16" - he's like the size and girth of my forearm. I will admit tho -all he really did was chase them - no injuries - but I'm pretty sure if the cichlids tried to lip lock'em they'd be missing thier lower jaws esp. now at his size.
 
Some Mala's will and others may not. I have had my Mala in with other fish since it was about 4" and is now probably around 8" and behaves very well. He protects his "cave" but thats it. Just sits in his cave all day. Actually quite a bore. Make sure it has hiding places. I took the cave out once and he jumped out and another time, a catfish knocked his cave over and he jumped and almost lost him that time.
 
I think you will be ok. There is always a risk but I don't think it will be a problem apart from some of the smaller fish. If the Wolf does reach a good size i.e 15" then some of the smaller fish might become food. What is the width of the 7'? tank size will be key to it working out.
 
personally, I'd be concerned by the Sev's and Uaru- they are easily the most at risk. Worst case scenario, a few weeks it will be fins and a month or so later, you'll see your first flesh wounds.
 
jelly;4501298; said:
I think you will be ok. There is always a risk but I don't think it will be a problem apart from some of the smaller fish. If the Wolf does reach a good size i.e 15" then some of the smaller fish might become food. What is the width of the 7'? tank size will be key to it working out.
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The tank is only 20" wide which is not ideal. So far he still hasn't bothered any one. He just sit's there and watches them swim by.

mynheers_a_pint;4501329; said:
personally, I'd be concerned by the Sev's and Uaru- they are easily the most at risk. Worst case scenario, a few weeks it will be fins and a month or so later, you'll see your first flesh wounds.
Click to expand...
The Uaru is actually quite boisterous so he might be okay. I can move the sevs and Uaru to another tank is there's any sign of trouble.
 
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