Bigger Tank needed, Fish Fighting

[leongreenway]

Hi,

I need some advice. Currently have a 25G tank containing a RTBlack shark 4inch, Black Calvus Cichlid 3.5inches (Tanganika) and Red Zebra Cichld 4inches(Malawi) and a Pleco 5inches

This was all cool, the odd minor boundary disagreement here and there.

Over the last two weeks or so the Red Zebra is going into everyone else's home and driving them out, apart for the Pleco who drives the Red Zebra off.

The Black Calvus stands his ground and fights for a while, but shys away defensiveley when the Red get serious. In fact Reds trying to bite the Calvus as I type this.

RTBShark is the one i want to protect abit, he's Ok cos he's fast enough to get out of the way of the zebra. But he's not as tough as the Plec and Calvus and is getting hassled. He has a go back but not to much affect.

I just dont want the zebra to kill anyone !!!!!!!!!!

I knew when i bought them that i would ultimateley need a bigger tank, but how big. I May even leave the RTBshark in 25G and get some less agressive fish or a Paradise fish, Cichlids are out I recon, unless anyone can recommend a passive Cichlid (if there is such a thing).

I thought one way of sorting problem is get a 55G and divide it into Rocky and planted areas with lots of hinding places, hopefuly the Cichlids will take residence in the rocky area and the RTBSark in the planted areas, with the Pleco in either.

Any Ideas??

 

[fish_keeper2]

ok where to start......i dont think that sharks can go with cichlids. next what type of plec is it. finnally i beileve that there are too few cichlids to lesson aggression. the only way would to get lots more but in a 25 gal its not possible. your idea might or might not work. i think(not totaly sure) that the shark and the cichlids have differenet water requirements. the only way(that i know of)to lessen aggression between cichlids is to overstock the tank so you get the lost in the crowed type of look. im not an expert on cichlids so that bout all i can say....try asking the african cichlid section for help

 

[IMCL85]

Get a 40g tank for them and have some rock and hidding place for all of them. That will takes out some agreesion as ur fish have place to hide.

 

[freddyk]

This is expected. When you start mixing cichlids with other cichlids from different places and non-cichlids all together without previous experience and understanding about their behavior, it inevitably is not going to work out.

To make it work you've got it right - get a much bigger tank. Calvus are a slow moving and laid back carnivore, while mbuna are a very active and aggressive and energetic omnivore. They shouldn't be sharing a tank in the first place, and most certainly shouldn't be sharing such a tiny tank.

I'd suggest getting yourself a 55 gallon and making it an mbuna tank, while keeping hte 25 gallon set up for the Calvus and the shark, if they get along.

 

[leongreenway]

Look there at it now. The Red Zebra is at iit again. Attacking the Calvus now.








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[colen]

Take the advice the other members have given you. Either get a new larger tank and make an african setup, or I suggest returning the red zebra. I have 4 myself and they'll even show aggresion towards cichlids 4 times there size. I am affriad your red zebra is going to harass/stress/kill its tank mates.

Research fish before you purchase them... no fish deserve this.

 

[leongreenway]

The idiots at the LFS told me it was a Peacock cichlid. Thats why I got Satan as i have now named him. The Red Tail and Calvus never really fought or the BN Plec either. If I thought it was a Red Zebra cichlid i wouldnt have bothered.