Agression And Feeding Problems

[Faythee]

I don't know what to do and I am about to pull my hair out.
I have:
8 danios
3 tinfoil barbs
1 pictus cat
1 opaline gourami
1 firemouth cichild

All housed in a 75 gal. tank. It started with the pictus, danios, and gourami. I added the tinfoils and the gourami chased them for a while but they were too fast and it stopped. Then I wanted a cichlid good for a community tank and read up on the firemouth. They are supposed to be less aggressive and sometimes shy. LOL...nope. My gourami chased it a couple days, now the firemouth chases EVERYTHING in the tank. Even the catfish ! Last night I noticed a tear in my gouramis tail fin. Uggggh. I feel sorry for the rest of the fish. Too the tinfoils and firemouth steal the catfishes food. Tried everything.

I do have a 10 gal. tank I keep for a hospital tank. Do I move the gourami or the firemouth ???

If it is the firemouth it will have to live all alone in there. Is that fair to the fish ?

I could move the gourami in there and be able to add a few other fish of some sort. But then will not be able to ever put anything else in the 75 gal. with that firemouth. Also I fear it will eventually eat the danios.

The danios and the pictus must stay in the 75 because I can't catch them to get them out !

Thanks for letting me vent
Newbie mistakes
Should have stuck to shoals of small fish
The pretty ones are always agressive

 

[hollyp0p]

what sort of gourami is it?

 

[Faythee]

Opaline gourami. Male I believe.

Firemouth. Not sure what sex.

They are both about the same size.

 

[hollyp0p]

hmmm I don't think you can keep an opaline in a 10 gallon....just reading up they grow to 5 inches and need a tank size minimum of 40 inches (i guess that means length)
You may have to return one or other to the LFS, unless you have any other spare or suitable tanks?!

 

[Faythee]

I love both of them. I considered buying a 25 gal. tank. Alot of expense for 1 fish though.

 

[hollyp0p]

I love both of them. I considered buying a 25 gal. tank. Alot of expense for 1 fish though.

just read up from same site on the firemouth aswell for you...it gets bigger again 6.5 inches, minimum tank is 32 inches for this one though, not sure what that would be in gallons *confusing website only giving you tank length* I still think it's gonna be around 40 gallons for a 32 inch tank using the rough aquarium calculator on here.

It is indeed a big expense....up to you I suppose....Unless you find a way of sectioning off part of your current tank, have one on one side, and the other.....on the other...lol

 

[PRW1988]

Firemouth cichlids are generally less agressive than your common cichlid. Just because they're not as agressive as most cichlids, doesn't mean they're not agressive. I'd highly recommend the removal of the Firemouth cichlid as it seems to be causing the most trouble. For a temperary housing you could use your 10gallon tank, but a tank of atleast 20gallons is recommended for the firemouth alone.

 

[hollyp0p]

Firemouth cichlids are generally less agressive than your common cichlid. Just because they're not as agressive as most cichlids, doesn't mean they're not agressive. I'd highly recommend the removal of the Firemouth cichlid as it seems to be causing the most trouble. For a temperary housing you could use your 10gallon tank, but a tank of atleast 20gallons is recommended for the firemouth alone.

Ahh that's good someone with proper knowledge

 

[Faythee]

When I got the firemouth I went and spent $70 at the store getting new decs to create more hiding spots. It sucks when you try to do it right and it fails. Think I will move the firemouth tonite temporarily to the 10 gal. Then I need to buy a larger tank and build a stand.

Are there ANY fish that could coincide with the firemouth ?

As far as the 75 gal. , any ideas what I can add that the gourami will not mind ? Tetras, barbs, etc. ?

 

[celaeno]

a pair of firemouths need a 30 gallon tank minimum, but you could get away with just a 20 gallon long tank if you're only housing 1 firemouth.

 

[Faythee]

Okay Y'all. I decided I will go to store tommorrow and get a 30-40 gal. tank to move the firemouth to. I will have stand built by the weekend. Transfer media, etc.
What would my chances be if I went to LFS and (hopefully they still have some left), get another firemouth same size. Put it in new tank , THEN add firemouth I have now. Are they going to fight ??? They aren'y fighting at the store. I will try to get one with a different looking dorsal fin for a pair, but what if I am wrong and I have 2 M or F ?