I started out with three Apistogramma Cacatuoides; a fish I rarely see in stores in my area. Two females, one male, and things went great for a good six months. Over Christmas, my male passed away while I was away for a few days, cause of death unknown (tank conditions were right where they should have been). Over the last month, I've watched the health of my second female turn awful.
While one female had always been slightly larger than the other, the two are now completely disproportionate in size. I'm fairly certain that the larger female has been bullying the smaller female into not eating at all. The colour differences and size differences in them are shocking, with the larger showing beautiful colouring and healthy build, while the smaller is scrawny, and has really dark colouring all the time.
I've separated her (The smaller, scrawny female) into a guppy breeder net that I keep for making tank refills easier. Update: She's been in the breeder net for 24 hours now, and I've watched her to ensure she ate. Other than her apparent size difference with her "sister", I don't see any physical injuries or visible health problems.
I'm debating on what my options are now.
Would it be acceptable to move the smaller female into a 5 gallon tank until I get some food into her, and then re-introduce her (hopefully with another female and a new male) in a month or so?. Would this help decrease the aggression (or would it increase the aggression of the solitary female when more are introduced?)
**posted this in New World Cichlids initially, lots of views, but no replies, I've gotta make a decision so I'd appreciate it if anyone could help me out with advice here. This is the first time I've dealt with dwarf cichlids (I did have a female betta sorority tank before, so that's what I'm taking my aggression knowledge from).
While one female had always been slightly larger than the other, the two are now completely disproportionate in size. I'm fairly certain that the larger female has been bullying the smaller female into not eating at all. The colour differences and size differences in them are shocking, with the larger showing beautiful colouring and healthy build, while the smaller is scrawny, and has really dark colouring all the time.
I'm debating on what my options are now.
Would it be acceptable to move the smaller female into a 5 gallon tank until I get some food into her, and then re-introduce her (hopefully with another female and a new male) in a month or so?. Would this help decrease the aggression (or would it increase the aggression of the solitary female when more are introduced?)
**posted this in New World Cichlids initially, lots of views, but no replies, I've gotta make a decision so I'd appreciate it if anyone could help me out with advice here. This is the first time I've dealt with dwarf cichlids (I did have a female betta sorority tank before, so that's what I'm taking my aggression knowledge from).
