Frontosa Bullying.

[dave_oddballs]

hi, i have 5 frontosas around 3.5", they are in a divided 3 foot tank for the moment whilst i sort out there larger accomodation! in there with them is 2 3.5" pink tailed characins in there with them (due to them getting bullied in the other half) but they don't cause a problem, there is 3 that seem dominant, and 2 that get chased, i know cichlids bicker between themselves and im not too worried about that, but the 2 that get the bullying are a lot skinnier than the others so i think they get chased off from food, they aren't worryingly skinny, you can see a big difference from them to the other 3 though. anything i can do or is it just a case of it sorting its self out once they have more room?

cheers, Dave

 

[star4]

I have mine (Whats left) split into 2 groups of 4 at the moment, just waiting for silicon to arrive as their tank has a leak . I think that the slimmer ones maybe male and are the least dominant, from watching mine this seems to usually be the case, my larger group of 4 has the big male and I think 3 smaller female as he doesnt bother them, but the other male I did have he harrassed. I think (this is only from observing mine) that when chasing starts the females tend to stand on their tails in a submissive pose and the males leave them alone, but when 2 males meet they chase. (I hope this makes sence). My smaller group of 4 I have 2 that do the tail standing pose but 2 that tend to chase each other, and the more dominant one wont let the other feed, what I am doing at the moment as they are in a smaller tank is over feeding so they all get something to eat, but upped the water changes to compensate for the over feeding. I am hoping once they are all in the bigger tank they will have more room to sort out the sqabbles. Hope this helps.

I have also found out that fronts are really picky about tank mates, my smaller ones are ok with the Ellioti youngsters, but I added a small plec, didnt think anything of it, but I lost 3 overnight all very stressed, I removed the plec and they all calmed down again!

 

[dave_oddballs]

yeah i think i get that, the dominant male will put everyone in their place but will allow submissive females but chase other males regardless?? and the females stand on their tails to show submission, and the less dominant males are forced away, normally into a corner, or in my case nowhere!
they should be able to go into the big tank by the weekend so if needs be i can put the 3 stronger ones in and leave the 2 weaker ones behind to feed up and catch up with the others.

 

[star4]

Yep thats about what I was trying to say But is is going on observations in my tank, so I could be wrong. Would be a good idea to leave the smaller ones away from the others till they get stronger, but if they are male you will have to watch when adding them back to the rest of the group. My silicon has just arrived, can get mine moved soon now

 

[dave_oddballs]

well its too late, the smallest one is dead, just got home and found it, well theres nothing i can do about it now i suppose, just get them moved into the big tank this weekend.
thanks for the advice anyway!!

 

[star4]

I am so sorry to hear that. If you can move the other one to a seperate tank I would, keep the tank in darkness and as quiet as possible, once they start going down the do die pretty quick, they are so sensitive.

 

[dave_oddballs]

well the four are in my girlfriends tanganyikan tank now and settling in nicely. Will wait untik they are 5-6" and take it from there!