Firemouth / Hrp Now Lip Locking - New Bigger Tank One Week Away

[kaivalagi]

I have an issue in my current 125L tank which I hoped would not turn up before my new much bigger tank had arrived...

My Juvi Firemouth and Honduran Red Point (both males) have started lip locking tonight, and it doesn't seem like it's going to let off any time soon. They had been quite happy in the tank for the past 2 months, but I guess the HRP has grown enough over the last month to give the FM something to fight about? The HRP has grown at an alarming rate to be honest.

I only have the one tank at present so moving fish isn't an option, I could try rearranging the decor a little but I doubt it will change things, do you think it's worth a shot anyway?

This really isn't good AFAIK as any damage caused to either fish won't help matters when I do the tank move, that will create enough stress as it is. My new 5ft tank is due this week or so I'm told but until then is there anything I can do in the meantime?

I was also planning on moving the fish into a 60L filtered bucket when I put the new tank in the old ones place, added substrate to it and filled it with water, bogwood and rocks. This obviously means that these fish, according to my plans, will be in the same 60L of water for a fair few hours whilst I get the new tank sorted out

Any advice you can offer? And please don't say "your tank is too small" because I really don't need to hear that right now. I have always known I need a bigger one, started research over 2 months ago on what to get, and ordered one more than 1 month back. I wasn't in such a rush to get the new tank as I assumed that I would have plenty of time before any hostility arrived.

Thanks for any constructive advice!

edit: and now they stopped and are moving around the tank together...mmmmm, I think they are both males...both of them are in the pics link in my sig below

 

[Glenbo1981]

I'm gonna keep it short as i havent had the time to read through everything (just scanned)

This is the kinda behavior that comes with CA's i'm afraid, it does happen with SA's, but on a much lesser scale.

You could try the whole 'rearrange' process, or take a fish out and reintroduce etc, but you may find that now they have started, they may not stop.

 

[kaivalagi]

I'm gonna keep it short as i havent had the time to read through everything (just scanned)

This is the kinda behavior that comes with CA's i'm afraid, it does happen with SA's, but on a much lesser scale.

You could try the whole 'rearrange' process, or take a fish out and reintroduce etc, but you may find that now they have started, they may not stop.

Thanks for the super fast reply! Yeah, I figured that might be the case, I have been reading the finer points of difference between CA and SA recently. I just hope they don't tear each other to shreds

I assume a much larger tank will ease any tensions there might be...it came straight out of nowhere! They were the 2 cichlids in my tank that got on best and gave each other a little respect (or so it seemed)

I think any new additions with the new big tank will be strictly SA...interestingly though my ickle geo (< 3") joined in giving the FM some hassle whilst the two were at it...I think he was trying to break it up

edit: maybe I've over reacted a little, but by gawd they were seriously at it, twisting in all directions. I now know what the scrapes on my FMs upper lip were from...The HRP is backing off I think now and taking second spot, good job as I think the FM has damaged the corner of his outer lip when things got a little full on. Another water change and a quick re-arranging of tank is in order tomorrow. Does this sort of thing tend to happen when the lights are off?

 

[Wills]

Fights can sometimes happen in the night but I wouldnt worry about it if need be divide the tank in someway if you can? I think a reagrange will work fine Get a bit of melafix in there and keep an eye on them should be fine

Had a look in your pic and the HRP is def male but dont know enough about FMs to say its 100% male but following what I do know I think you have 2 males there. But one thing I want to know is what is your port acara whats the scientific name you got that under? Looks very nice

Wills

 

[kaivalagi]

Fights can sometimes happen in the night but I wouldnt worry about it if need be divide the tank in someway if you can? I think a reagrange will work fine Get a bit of melafix in there and keep an eye on them should be fine

Had a look in your pic and the HRP is def male but dont know enough about FMs to say its 100% male but following what I do know I think you have 2 males there. But one thing I want to know is what is your port acara whats the scientific name you got that under? Looks very nice

Wills

Thanks, the acara was sold as a "Brown Acara", you know what some LFS are like...I think the tank he was in didn't even have him labelled up, he was in with other juvi CA/SA cichlids... He hasn't changed much from the pic you've seen, just a little bigger but the same nice yellow/brown hue. I've always assumed he's a "[font="arial][size="2"]Cichlasoma portalegrense" - I got him for the grand total of £1.80, my cheapest fish by far.[/size][/font]
[font="arial] [/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="arial][size="2"]Lip locking is on again in my tank, the wife thinks I'm mad and obsessing...which I can't argue with [/size][/font]

 

[star4]

I have just gone through this with my female Ellioti and Texas! she was beating the poor texas up, wouldnt mind but the texas is lots bigger than her! I had another tank to move her too though. I would suggest take both fish out re-arrange tank then put them both back in, but if tank re-arranging doesnt work you could get some mesh or something and divide the tank. Shame I am not closer I have a 3ft tank empty at the mo you could have borrowed it till you new tank arrived.

 

[kaivalagi]

I have just gone through this with my female Ellioti and Texas! she was beating the poor texas up, wouldnt mind but the texas is lots bigger than her! I had another tank to move her too though. I would suggest take both fish out re-arrange tank then put them both back in, but if tank re-arranging doesnt work you could get some mesh or something and divide the tank. Shame I am not closer I have a 3ft tank empty at the mo you could have borrowed it till you new tank arrived.

And I thought Elloti were very peaceful, more so than FMs. Must be a right character!

It's such a shame the new tank isn't here...days away...sods law really...

Watching this fish behaviour I find it so strange at times, at night all these quarrels and very weird territory boundaries, then during the day it's like nothing happened.

I still can't get over how my Geo reacted to the fighting, he's a lot smaller and very placid, yet he launched himself right in amongst it nose butting the FM as if to say chill out guys...I think he needs a new name...something that reminds me of him being chilled...."Dude" from The Big Lebowski maybe lol

I'm gonna pop over the road to Pets@Home at lunchtime and get some Melafix and hopefully something to divide the tank up with that's not a complete rip off. Anything available in Homebase that would do the job of dividing the tank that you know of?

 

[star4]

Mrs Sparkles (the Ellioti) was wanting to spawn with the Texas thats what kicked it off, the only one that did get nipped was the RTBS he is the referee in the tank, he is straight in and breaks up squabbles, although this morning every single fish is crammed up one end because the sevs have laid again!!!. I have never divived a tank myself but would guess some sort of netting would suffice so long as the fish cannot get trapped in it or maybe even wire mesh? as its only for a week, or an under gravel filter turned on its side?

 

[kaivalagi]

Mrs Sparkles (the Ellioti) was wanting to spawn with the Texas thats what kicked it off, the only one that did get nipped was the RTBS he is the referee in the tank, he is straight in and breaks up squabbles, although this morning every single fish is crammed up one end because the sevs have laid again!!!. I have never divived a tank myself but would guess some sort of netting would suffice so long as the fish cannot get trapped in it or maybe even wire mesh? as its only for a week, or an under gravel filter turned on its side?

RTBS? I just can't think what it stands for...
More breeding, what do you put in your water!

WIll you leave the eggs in the capable hands of your Sevs or are you going to move them somewhere and tend to them yourself?

I went to homebase 'cause pets@home are useless for tank divides and homebase were all out of the fine green mesh that would have been ideal, only the wider mesh was there which would be fine for the cichlids but I'd worry about my oto and cory's. No divider in the tank at the moment. I might well re-arrange the tank a little today whilst both of the guys are bagged, then put them back in...I am just concerned it might make things worse rather than better because they may start from square one again and beat on each other more than would otherwise happen...maybe one more day watching them will make my mind up on this, right now all is fine.

Dosed the tank with Melafix, hopefully that will stop Wally's (FM) cut lip from getting worse...that stuff stinks, it reminds me tooooo much of hospitals for sure. Should I dose for the full 7 days or until his wounds are better, which ever is shorter maybe?

Thanks for all your help guys, much appreciated!

 

[forby3]

RTBS? I just can't think what it stands for...



red tail black shark

 

[kaivalagi]

RTBS? I just can't think what it stands for...
red tail black shark

Thanks, I was trying to think of a cichlid and couldn't...

 

[star4]

I dont put anything in the water lol, got too many fish in there also, but they seem to like it, although I do 2 water changes a week. I only use Melafix for about 3 days for a wound if its bad (deep or big), clean water helps it clear up the best. Leaving the eggs in again this time, got no where to put them anyway really the only spare tank is 3ft but dont have a filter suitable, but they are doing a great job so far they have survived 2 days now!

The only other thing would be a breeding trap, put on in one of those, although they are a little small and their is the possiblity a fm or hrp may jump out of one.

 

[star4]

Is this any good?

http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail62_132978.php

 

[kaivalagi]

Is this any good?

http/www.aquarist-...il62_132978.php

Already ordered this one: http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140394375941#ht_500wt_1182
Same size though and should do the job nicely...

The FM is getting very dark in colour now, looks like he's going to explode

It's funny though, when I come through and watch him and he knows I'm there the aggression subsides and the normal colours return...probably thinking food which obviously makes all other concerns irrelevant