Cichlids-why Cant Everyone Just Get Along

[pando]

ive only had my tank a few weeks and only discovered this site a few days ago so sorry if i am posting alot of problems but i bought a cichlid last week (a jack dempsy x convict) and he is about 2cm's and today i bought another of the same breed who is very slightly smaller than him and within a minute the one i bought last week started chasing him around has been going on for hours......is there any way of stopping them is this natural? i have a 2 foot by 2 foot tank considering they're size the tank is quite large thought that them noth being tiny babies that they would befriend each other considering they're in a community tank of large silver sharks.....is this a get to know them thing or hostility thing??? will they ever get along i know its only early days.......
very confused needing help

 

[annka5]

Cichlids are pretty aggressive by nature, particularly towards fish that are the same or look the same as themselves. Comes from the shortage of natural resources esp. territories in the wild. The new fish has effectively invaded the territory of the pre-existing fish, which is trying to chase it away.
They are territorial, so providing plenty of nooks and cranies for them could help, also using a tank divider until they get used to each other.
I don't keep any, so am not sure of tank sizes etc that you need for cichlids, but with silver sharks as well it does sound like you have too many active fish in the tank, which will become a big problem when they grow.
If you go to the cichlids section and read related posts in it you will find more info and please check the tank sizes recommended for your fish.