Colour-changing Gangsta Auratus

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lgarvey

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Hi,

I have an auratus which is just starting to adopt the male colouration -- turning an nasty looking black, and a johanni (blue vertical stripes, same genus 'melanchromis' as the auratus). Anyway, the auratus has suddenly decided that the johanni can not co-inhabit the tank and has started to chase attack the fish. I spent a couple of hours removing rocks and finally caught the johanni and stuck him in his own breeding box for about 3 days. I meant to put him in a bag to return him to the LFS, but the bugger jumped out of the box and into the tank, not the bag. *starts to cry*

So far the auratus is just following the fish about the place, but is not viciously attacking as before. Could these guys somehow live in peace and harmony, would they settle their differences? Or should I dismantle the tank once again and return the fish.


L
 
How big is the tank? I would return the Johanni as the Auratus will kill him. If not today , tommorow....
 
Hi,

It's a 300 litre, 4ft tank that is tall enough that I have to stand on a chair and can't quite reach teh bottom =( Yes, I bit the bullet took out all the rock (again!!!) caught the johani and returned him.

He's now in a home at the LFS with about 12 johani friends and no auratus. I got a large female acei and two peacocks (against all internet rules i know). The peacocks were in tanks with dozens of mbuna, and the LFS guy said he's never seen a problem, so I thought i'd take a risk!

They're sat in bags in the tank now acclimating.

L
 
Hi,

It's a 300 litre, 4ft tank that is tall enough that I have to stand on a chair and can't quite reach teh bottom =( Yes, I bit the bullet took out all the rock (again!!!) caught the johani and returned him.

He's now in a home at the LFS with about 12 johani friends and no auratus. I got a large female acei and two peacocks (against all internet rules i know). The peacocks were in tanks with dozens of mbuna, and the LFS guy said he's never seen a problem, so I thought i'd take a risk!

They're sat in bags in the tank now acclimating.

L

TBH I would of returned the auratas as they are really bad ####, theres normally always a risk whem mixing up melanochromis species, they just simply dont like each other, and you mixed one of the most agressive melanochromis (auratas) with one of the least agressive (Johanni). Glad you noticed the dispute before it was too late, good luck.
 
I would return the Auratus instead of Johanni. Have you read some other posts talking about them. They are sooo terriotorial and have been known to claim half of a decent sized tank for it's own territory. Having one is asking for problems, IMO. If you don't get rid of it now, chances are it'll create havoc in the future too.
 
Yeh, I agree. The johanni was so nice as well, but I returned it! I didn't want to return the auratus because it was not from teh shop I buy all my livestock now. But the LFS guy said I could have returned it. This may happen anyway! I prefer the female colouration of the auratus as well - really nice.

Will see how it gets on, but I am potentially looking at stripping down the tank again! *sigh*

Fortunately this time I have a much bigger net.

L
 
I had a similar problem with an auratus just lately. Once it matured & developed the adult colouration, true to form it went a bit berserk & became very violent.

In the end I had to return it to the LFS. Pity, it was a beautiful specimen, but it just became too much trouble.
 
I had a similar problem with an auratus just lately. Once it matured & developed the adult colouration, true to form it went a bit berserk & became very violent.

In the end I had to return it to the LFS. Pity, it was a beautiful specimen, but it just became too much trouble.

Yeh, it's starting to attack other fish as well. It seems to single them out and go after them. Generally it minds its own business, as it always has, but if it decides it doesn't like a fish, it will give it hell. I'll see how it progresses, if it's a horror it's getting traded in for a calmer johanni!

Currently it looks like it's been digging in coal with a black snout! Always has a lot of personality though.

L
 

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