Keyhole Aggression. Advice Please.

[totally tropical]

Following on from a recent post regarding keyholes, just wanted to know how long the aggression will persist between my keyholes? The 6 that I have were purchased when they were very young and have grown in to a nice size together (no change of tank or surroundings) - it is only now that aggression has broken out.

Minxfishy recently left this info on my recent post:
The one displaying the dark banding is likely male and showing dominance in order to attrack one of the females (assuming you have both male and females), the chasing is part of the dominance display.

Now other keyholes are showing aggression, though on a smaller scale to the main man! Is the aggression in order to woo a mate? and if so will the aggression finally die down? - has been a few days now and from morning till night they are at it hammer and tong! I know that this will be normal behaviour, but it is very interesting to watch when they have been so peaceful together for so long.

Thank you in advance.

 

[jmkgreen]

Er, it should not be hard to distinguish males against females. Examine the rear end of the dorsal fin if it extends to the far end of the caudal fin it's male; if it reaches only half way along the caudal fin it is female. Comparing with two sexes in the same tank it's really obvious even in young specimens.

As to the aggression there can be no guarantees - if I were in your position I would be removing all bar the females and the strongest male. The other males may suffer to the death despite them being known as a shy and placid species.

 

[totally tropical]

Er, it should not be hard to distinguish males against females. Examine the rear end of the dorsal fin if it extends to the far end of the caudal fin it's male; if it reaches only half way along the caudal fin it is female. Comparing with two sexes in the same tank it's really obvious even in young specimens.

As to the aggression there can be no guarantees - if I were in your position I would be removing all bar the females and the strongest male. The other males may suffer to the death despite them being known as a shy and placid species.

Thank you for your advice, much appreciated.

Anyone else got a view on this?

 

[totally tropical]

Er, it should not be hard to distinguish males against females. Examine the rear end of the dorsal fin if it extends to the far end of the caudal fin it's male; if it reaches only half way along the caudal fin it is female. Comparing with two sexes in the same tank it's really obvious even in young specimens.

As to the aggression there can be no guarantees - if I were in your position I would be removing all bar the females and the strongest male. The other males may suffer to the death despite them being known as a shy and placid species.

Thank you for your advice, much appreciated.

Anyone else got a view on this?

Bump.

 

[Fish Guy]

You'll always have some trouble with aggression when dealing with cichlids, either breeding or territorial. So you may be better off taking out all the males but the one Dominant one and have the rest of the Keyholes females. If you have the 1 male and 4-5 females the aggression can be spread out over the group rather then just one female getting all the attention. If you are not able to take out any of them you could try taking out all of the Keyholes for a minute and rearrange the decor in your tank. This sometimes helps with territorial aggression, but eventually the aggression will come up again once the fish get settled.
What size is the tank that the Keyholes are in?

 

[totally tropical]

You'll always have some trouble with aggression when dealing with cichlids, either breeding or territorial. So you may be better off taking out all the males but the one Dominant one and have the rest of the Keyholes females. If you have the 1 male and 4-5 females the aggression can be spread out over the group rather then just one female getting all the attention. If you are not able to take out any of them you could try taking out all of the Keyholes for a minute and rearrange the decor in your tank. This sometimes helps with territorial aggression, but eventually the aggression will come up again once the fish get settled.
What size is the tank that the Keyholes are in?

Many thanks for your help - the tank is 300 litres.

I did buy the 6 keyholes when they were young in order for a pair to bond and would then be taking/selling the other 4. I am not sure of the sex of all of the keyholes so will be posting a youtube video sometime next asking help to sex the fish now they are adults. Just hoping that there is at least one female in there!

I have been given lots of advice as to sex these fish, but still find it difficult to be 100% certain.

Have been told that it is a little strange that a pair has not bonded as yet, as they have been known to bond from 2 inches in size and mine are much bigger.

 

[snowflake311]

Markings have nothing to do with sexing keyholes. But can tell you the mood. When they have a line going from head to tail that means stress. When the whole body is almost white and they have a very dark spot on the side they are happy, horny, or domanite. If a fish has half a spot or no spot and light all over color they are being submisive showig they don't want to fight. I have had my keyhole for 2 years now I have gotten to know how to read him pretty well we have been throw a lot together.

Do you have any keyholes that a smaller shorter fins? Females will have a round look. They are hard to sex look at this site.
look at the first photo of a breeding pair. The male is on the lefts the female is on the right. The body shape is a little differant the males and all around larger the female is a bit round in the mid section
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile64.html
Also here. The first photo is a female. Look at the bottom of the belly see it's a little round. Males will have a flat belly.
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/species-gallery/cichlids/maronii.html

here is another pair. Can you tell who is who? Right female male on lefts. Only way to tell is the size.

http/diszhal.info/halak/Cleithracara_maronii3.jpg

if you have had them for more then a month I don't thing the aggressive fish will stop untill you do something.

 

[snowflake311]

How are they doing? My male keyhole is guarding one small corner of my tank from the rams. But let's the female blue acara in his space. They have a little thing going. But my keyhole Carl has never been like this before he use to swim with the rams. But he is now trying to win over the love of my blue acara. He shows off for her and she is confused.

Cichids are weird. I have had Carl for 2 years now He is a funny fish. I was cleaning the tank and went in his space guess what he did. Yup he bit me I was shocked what a punk. But he is not hurting anyone.