chichlid problems

twistedimage92

twistedimage92

Large Fish
#1
Aug 23, 2005
203
0
0
40
Cocoa Beach
www.tiecc.net
#1
few things... first of all, my chichlids are still killing each other off. i started with about 40 of them and now i am down to about 12 or 13. i have had them for about a year now. they are all over 4" some up to 7 i would say

none of them have ever mated

they are scared when i come around

what could be wrong with my chichlids?
 

yav1n

yav1n

Medium Fish
#2
Aug 2, 2006
97
1
0
#2
well I have a 125 gal that in many peoples opinion is fully stocked. i have about 20 fish. I think what your experiencing is normal for the size of the tank. When there isnt much room and africans grow and get comfertable they tend to attack. of course I am guessing that your not even sure excatly what your fish are? As they have gotten older have there colors changed? how many different types do you have? when they get full grown like your's it makes it difficult to have that many in the tank. if you still have any really aggresive males in there you might want to remove a few put them in another tank or send them back to the store
 

yav1n

yav1n

Medium Fish
#5
Aug 2, 2006
97
1
0
#5
usually if they are similar looking they will go after each other. If you want to know what they are you could post a picture. I would reccomend getting another tank or selling a couple back to the LFS
 

C

Cichlid-Man

MFT Staff
#7
Jul 9, 2003
8,866
14
38
38
Columbia, SC
www.youtube.com
#7
First of what kind of cichlids do you have.

Secondly have you acctually wintnessed the murder? Or are you just seeing them pick at the dead corpse and assume they did it.

I think you overstocked to begin with in just a 45, espeically if you were not selective in choosing your species. I am also concerned about the difference in sizes you have in there. So many chances for problems.

In my opinion, rocks will not help you. Yes rocks can break up fights sometimes but you must remember. Its still in the limits of those 45gals and there is only so far a fish can run. You'll usually have 1-2 dominant males in that size tank...and constant scuffles. In the wild a dominant mbuna could possibly control rock piles the size of a 45gal tank itself.

I just think your problems are non selective species selection, overstocking, and size differences.
 

Katie217

Katie217

Superstar Fish
#8
Jul 15, 2006
2,494
5
0
Florida
#8
arutas (SP) are a mbuna, they are sold everywhere, they are yellow with white and black horizontal stripes as juviniles, as they grow females stay those colours and males get black with white horisontal stripes.
 

yav1n

yav1n

Medium Fish
#11
Aug 2, 2006
97
1
0
#11
mlol I almost bought some of those in the past Iam glad I didnt. They would have made short work of some of my nicer fish.

M. Auratus was one of the first cichlids to be exported from Lake Malawi. The males will only defend a territory when females are present, but will leave it as soon as no females appear interested. The males are extremely aggressive towards other males and will try to kill any other male of its species. Due to the risk of hybridization, they should not be kept with other Melanochromis species. Basic coloration is bright yellow with black horizontal bars. Males have a dark brown belly
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=750
 

Likes: Igor The Cat
JustOneMore20

JustOneMore20

Large Fish
#12
Aug 4, 2006
237
4
0
Alabama
#12
I do think she meant Auratus. :)

I would also agree that you are overstocked. The limit for a 55g with African Mbuna is around 20 fish...or so I've been told. So having as many as you have (or had) in a 46g was definitely overstocked.

You have to be careful which fish you choose because some are very aggressive. Thats why you research before you buy and make sure you know what you are getting. Stay away from the "mixed African" tank at the LFS unless you can ID the fish.
 

yav1n

yav1n

Medium Fish
#13
Aug 2, 2006
97
1
0
#13
K-your advice is so sound but common impulse buying is the best way to learn about fish..lol *twirlysmi thats how I have always learned the hard way. 20 is a high number for a 55. unless you pick the fish carefully. I have 20 fish in my 125. some are going to have to go when they grow. or they will leave and end up in the big fish tank in the sky. 20 auratus would be ineresting. it would be interesting to see who would live
 

Kephren01

Kephren01

Large Fish
#15
Aug 29, 2006
134
0
0
New Jersey
#15
well i'm kinda new to this. I have a 40gal bow front tank. I have 14 cichlids and a rafael. I agree with the "learn the hard way" approach, but to a degree. If you know there are some fish that you absolutely want, look them up, or if you look up fish that you know you absolutely should get... don't get them. I went to the store and got a specific 5 then picked out 5 more, then did the non-recommended thing and got a bunch out of an "assorted" tank cheap. They are all small, and I have a loooot of rocks stacked for them to go in and out of.

anyway, thats my two cents

oh and if you restock... unless YOU WANT a whole tank of 1 or 2 species.... don't do that, you'll get borred with them all being the same. Look for different ones to mix, unless you want just a specific 1 or 2.
 

JustOneMore20

JustOneMore20

Large Fish
#16
Aug 4, 2006
237
4
0
Alabama
#16
I prefer to do research and not have innocent fish killed because I have no idea what I'm doing. But thats just me. ;) I stock my tanks the smart way by researching first and planning what fish will go together. I said 20 fish was about the limit for a 55g...not that you should have 20. It all depends on what types you have. Some fish are less aggressive, so they should be alright if you have more of them. Most people suggest 12-15 for a 55g. 20 would be the most I'd have.

For a 46g though, I'd go with 2 groups of 5-6. And stay away from really aggressive types. The more aggressive, the bigger the tank you should keep them in. Also check the adult size of the fish you want to make sure they will not outgrow the tank. Or another option would be an all male tank. You could get males of different types...I'm not sure on numbers for this one though. I still don't think I'd go over 12.

Twisted image: How about some yellow labs and Cynotilapia afra cobue? You could replace the yellow labs with another Labidochromis type if you like. Labs are not too aggressive and the Cobue are only mildy aggressive and stay around 4 inches. You could possibly fit 3 groups of 4 in the tank...but I'd pick another mildly aggressive mbuna.
 

Last edited:
yav1n

yav1n

Medium Fish
#17
Aug 2, 2006
97
1
0
#17
research is key. Fish are fish. yes listen to just one more. She does things the right way. Follow it by the book that is the key. do research dont make mistakes. Dont be like me dont ever make an impulsive purchase. Save the innocent fish, if there is such a thing. If you do it by the book you wont ever have problems;) Do the best you can learn when you make a mistake, and dont be afraid to make a mistake. Unless of course you work in the medical field or are the president
 

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