auratus

[Scorp1on]

We have 2 auratus one of which is really dark in places. The best way to describe it is parts of him look like he played in soot. Are they supposed to change color or is he in trouble?

 

[semper fi]

auratus do have color differences between the sexes. auratus are born with female coloring and when sexually mature males change to blue and black striping. yours is probably at the age where he is sexually maturing. auratus are harem breeders require a group of atleast 5 females to mate with. this lowers the aggression. with just one female or another male in the tank, you might find the maturing male bullying the others.

dither fish are also good. takes some of the aggression off. danios are good for dithers

 

[Scorp1on]

ok as it stands we need at least 4 more females. but what are dither fish?

 

[vantgE]

male auratus are among the most agrisive cichlids availible, dither fish are smaller faster fish that can be added to the tank to be attacked by the cichlid to spread the agression out over more fish. Danios work great for this because of there speed.
So instead of the auratus male attacking all the females constantly he attacks the females sometimes and the dithers other time takeing pressure of your other cichlids

 

[Scorp1on]

won't they get eaten sometime by someone? p.s. the wife thinks that mean to the danio

 

[semper fi]

what else is in the tank? danios are fast and can get away. using a slower moving fish as a dither would not be a good choice. it would get beat on and eventually killed. dithers are sometimes essential to help the females. the male, if his aggression is focused on one female, will eventually kill her if she refuses to spawn with him.

 

[Scorp1on]

everything in the tank is listed below except 2 new ones i need to add.