Cichlids forming territories

[isu_guy]

How quickly do (new world) cichlids form their territories and how well can additional cichlids be added after territories have been formed?

*I realize that this will differ depending on the species, but feel free to give me a "for instance." I will be getting a 75 gallon in a week, and probably spending a long time to set it up how I want before even adding any water partly due to me moving in the spring and not wanting to have to deal with transporting live fish and dealing with draining and filling a tank.

**I currently have never fishless cycled but don't believe I should need to because I can steal the media from my 20g that is up and running. The reason I bring it up is because I've heard you want to put many cichlids in and let pairs form and then take back the others, and I wonder if the media from the 20 will be able to keep up with that.

thanks for the help


(I posted a similar post in the new world cichlids section with no responses so I figured it would get more exposure here. Sorry to the 9 of you who might have read almost the same question twice)

 

[Becca]

If you haven't already, I'd try posing this question in one of the Cichlid sections, just to make sure some of the Cichlid Folks see this.

I don't know much about New World Cichlids, or I'd help ya out.

 

[yvez9]

in my 20 gallon, my bolivian ram (male) took over the entire tank within about 2 days (the first day he looked scared, the second he tossed every other fish in a corner)

i gave him away and got german blue rams (a pair). they're the only cichlids in there along with 5 female bettas right now. they look good and seem to have taken up pretty much the front of the tank which they share with my whiptail catfish, i never see them in the back. took them 2-3 days too after i removed the bolivian ram. they couldn't have an inch when the bolivian ram was in there....

I'm guessing the more caves you set up and the more fish you put in there, the longer it will take, but i doubt it would take more than 2-3 days as the stronger fish won't take long to show the others who's the boss in the tank and choose their spot first. then the others will choose their spot.

if you put in many cichlids, expect fights to come up at first (they will most likely happen) as they all try to be king of the tank. then they will establish territory and males will pair up with females. Just watch out for stressed out fish and return them if they always stick in a corner and are not allowed to move from there.

Try to cut up the tank with a plant (plastic) wall, driftwood, large rocks and so on so there is a physical barrier in the tank. that way, fish will be less tempted to take over the whole tank.

Cichlids are very interesting to watch. I am currently setting up a 50 gallon Mbuna.

Good luck and take your time to set everything up.