Juvenile Texas Cichlids

[~Jason~]

Hi I have texas cichlids I got them 2 weeks apart. They are 2 difrent sizes but came from the same tank at the LFS there about 1/2 inch difrent in size. The biger one I got first and yesterday I got the smaller one but the biger one is being a jerk to the smaller one. My question is should I take the biger one out and put it in another tank untill the smaller one grows a little biger? Or do you think they will mellow out? I got the smaller one hoping they will be a male and female because I heard the males grow faster than females.

Thanks
~Jason~

 

[minxfishy]

Unless you have a very large tank, I would suggest you take one back, Texas cichlids are extremely aggressive and unless you happen to have a male and female, one will not tolerate the other (and even if they are m/f still might not). Also what other fish do you have in the tank?

 

[holidayinn]

Yep, how big's the tank?

 

[~Jason~]

They are in a 30 g tank right now but I picked up a new 55 g tank that I will be setting up within the next 5 mounths or so or untill I can aford filtration and decor. The big fish is 1 1/2 inches and the smaler one is 1 inch, I also have 6 blood fin tetras that are about 2 long inch each. They came from the same tank at my LFS but 2 weeks apart there were 2 little ones and the rest were all the same size as my big one.

~Jason~

 

[minxfishy]

Well ONE Texas needs a 55g, for two, your talking 125++g and even then it would be touch and go that they would get along.

Not sure how long the tetras will last, you might be ok, my Texas took a dislike to anything in the tank with him and killed/maimed whatever I tried.

I strongly suggest you return the second Texas. For Dithers, I would return the tetras and get Giant Danios as they are very fast and might avoid a Texas' aggression.

 

[~Jason~]

Wow ok thanks I dont want to get rid of the bloodfins though and I still have 3 other tanks I could put them in. besides Giant Danios what other Dithers would be good?

~Jason~

 

[Davo86]

In a 55G? not many, Giant Danios are the most likely to work but that is far from a safe bet. With Most Texas cichlids if your looking to keep any other tankmates then you would need a tank of around 75G or bigger.

I wouldn't keep the bloodfins in with the texas for too long, they will soon disappear,

As for keeping two together, one will no doubt be killed, unless they pair up, which would be most unlikely IME