Agressive Jewel Cichlids

[metalcherry]

I accidently bought a krib many months back which later killed my baby oscar by bullying it.
I was advised that the only other fish i could really put in were jewel cichlids because they are both quite ballsy and hopefully they will form a sort of stalemate situation and live in peace.

I got 2 jewel (paired) and i have had them for about 2 months now and everything seemed fine until i checked them the other day. Both of them had beautiful colours and sparkcle but i noticed that once had turned a gastly brown colour and hasnt been as happy as what he used to be (im saying its a he but not really sure, the other appears to have put on vast amounts of weight so i believe the other is a girl)
anyways
I saw he had become brown and i was told that kribs could change colour (after i witnessed my krib in early hours nearly white instead of his usual mauve colour with brown streak across his body, but was told their colour changes when they sleep)

anyways,
I checked the fish last night and i saw that the brown jewel's whole back fin has been taken off, at first i thought it was the krib - because of past experiences - but the sick cichlid is happy enough to float beside the krib and they seem quite chummy but as soon as the other jewel comes near him he darts like a mad fish all across the tank and the other always persues.

I dont know what to do, i really dont like the thought of thinking that a fish is being bullied - should i just leave him in there and let it continue and hope it dies down or should i take him out. I spotted the healthy jewel chasing the krib but so far she still has her lovely tail.
The sick jewel does not appear to be eating food either, everytime food goes into the tank, the healthy jewel takes a massive mouthfull and chases the others off.

I tried to put some plants in the middle as a form of borderline to help block their views a little so it might help not pay as much attention to each other but even that has not worked they have plenty of hiding places but they dont seem to be that interested.

 

[The-Wolf]

sounds like a classic case of survival of the fittest to me.

fish, like many other animals, will often turn on a sick or injured fish to either drive
it away (thus into a predator creating a diversion for them)
or to out right kill it for their own dietary needs.

the best thing to do is place the injured fish in a Q/T and treat it.
when it is healthy again reintroduce it back to the others.
if you don't have a Q/T then a divider would be the next best thing.

 

[metalcherry]

Thanks
It used to be the strongest fish but the girl fish appears to have dominance over him.
The krib despite being chased about the tank appears to be surviving well - very fast therefore out of the way of her nibbles on his fins.

will try the QT idea, hopefully the fish will be ok - i dont know that much about fishy things but will his back fin come back?

 

[The-Wolf]

yes the fin will grow back, it may take a week or two but it will grow back.
treat with melafix to promote healing and regrowth as well as preventing a secondary bacterial infection.
(think of melafix as a plaster/band aid for fish)

 

[metalcherry]

brilliant
Thank you so much xx