Aggressive Sajica

[glolite]

Hi folks. Been away a while busy cycling tanks and moving fish. The big tank is finally up and running and my unlikely mix of cichlids finally happy (they grew up together and I inherited them). However, the 45g tank I moved them from has one remaining cichlid in, an aggressive male sajica with beautiful blue and yellow eyes which sparkle when he's happy (unfortunately this is when he is fighting!!)

Anyway, I put a large featherfin catfish in for company as he seemed lonely after his fighting pals had gone. In fact on the advice of the lfs I tried him in the big tank after 2 weeks separation, but he attacked all of them in turn so out he came again.
Well he's been trying to kill the featherfin for about 3 days despite getting repeatedly bitten on the nose by the catfish. Tomorrow, sadly, I plan to take the sajica to the lfs for rehoming. He has one last chance if anybody on the forums has ANY idea of a fish that might do as a companion???

And don't suggest pirrhanas

 

[Dwarfs]

Female sajicas Have you tried moving his decor around? This may cause him to think he is in a new territory and not be so aggressive to other fish

 

[glolite]

Thanks Dwarfs. The lfs reckon he'll kill females as there are only small ones for sale. I've tried moving decor around and have put half a new plastic drainpipe in for the catfish/loaches. They just hide in the pipe and the sajica continues to bully the catfish (who ignores him).

 

[Ferris]

The featherfin will be able to look after himself, problem is not too many other fish will be compatible, re-homing may be your best bet.

 

[glolite]

OK so I called Trimar and they said that he needs a good woman. So I ordered one female sajica and she arrived this morning. Really sweet fish but weeeeenie!!
After acclimatizing her I was worried the male was too big so have put a breeding tank into the tank with suction pads and put her in. It has it's own oxygen supply and have turned off the lights in the main tank. How long should I leave her before release into main tank or does anyone think I should grow her on in a separate tank? All replies gratefully accepted.

 

[glolite]

He did't notice her in the babysaver and I'm too chicken to put her in. Will grow her on a bit

 

[sub.42]

Sajica males will chase anything that resembles a female Saj.

Just how much smaller than his highness is she?

Half, Smaller?

sub.

PS, Sajicas are always stroppy little sods!, just wait until yours start to get jiggy. Then the fun starts !LOL!

Smashing fun, literally. The nickname T-bar is all about how much damage they can dish out.....

 

[glolite]

Thanks Sub, at last, another sajica fan!!
Well baby female saj is about a fifth of the males size. She is adorable I've put her in a 6g tank with 3 otos and when the otos wafers drop down she has great fun playing with them, turning themm over and over and she's so friendly. I've been feeding her fine crushed cichlid flake twice daily, just a tiny pich and she wolfs it. Plus she has 1 small hikari gold pellet every other day. Want to grow her fast!! If I introduced her as a tiny fish, do you think the male might be protective at all or would you wait till she's juvenile size?

 

[sub.42]

glolite,

It's hard to tell how he would receive her. He is unlikely, at her size, to see her as potential partner material, he will almost certainly not show any protective tendancies! Keep her away until shes a little bigger.

I have only seen male Sajicas show real, prolonged interest in females of the species when the female is at least half his size. In groups of fish, strangely, he (dome daddy)seems to chose the female that is bigger than average, and also capable of 'giving some attitude'. Those females that wont fight, don't get chosen. He will still chase however, thats what he's here to do! He is always investigating potential mates. His pair bonding is not always that prolonged.

Then if and when mummy Saj is all tucked up with the eggs, daddy Saj goes playing away if he can. He normally only gets time to flirt in my tank, cos he gets duffed up if mum Saj sees him chatting up the birds!

Make no mistake, once the wrigglers make free swimming stage, and mum Saj wants to move them about a bit, theres gonna be trouble.

Just wait until you see her in battle dress, those eyes man.....wow!

Good luck.

sub.