Keyhole Aggression

[meguro]

So I just added 2 keyholes to my tank and they seem to be pretty aggressive. Will this decrease after a couple days or so? They're probably smaller than 4cm each, and don't have the best fin condition (ie. nipped in the lfs tank) but they harass my other fish to no end. My bolivian rams aren't as bright and have lost the black spot which is now pale. My two 5-7cm angelfish are also targets for the keyholes. They even harass my peppered catfish and my bristlenose (seriously wth).

Anyone else experienced this sort of thing either with keyholes or some other similar cichlid? And did it stop after a short while or continue?

 

[Curiosity101]

I'll be keeping an eye on this as I was debating adding a keyhole to my community as a final addition.

What size tank is it they're in?

 

[meguro]

4ft 180L

 

[Curiosity101]

That sounds like a perfect size for keyhole, and I thought they were meant to be particularly peaceful. I wonder whats causing it...
What are the other tank inhabitants?

 

[Glenbo1981]

I think Keyholes in general are as peaceful as say a Rainbow Cichlid or a Festivum,they are still Cichlids at the end of the day!!

 

[mark1979]

thats stange, i added 5 small keyholes and they were so shy at 1st,now there always at the front of the tank wanting food,lol

they are so timid,saying that my whole tank is,as all my fish are very young still

i wonder that if they have been nipped etc etc at the lfs,its made them abit more "physical"

 

[england]

Are you sure they are keyholes?just making sure

I had a pair who bred a few times in a community envioroment and even then never really had a prob, may theyve taken a disliking to the rams..

Glenbo hit the nail on the head..they are cichlids and as one could say my firemouth is a softie,another could say my firemouth killed everything in my tank..cichlids are cichlids at the end of the day,trail and error is the key..ofcourse keep asking for more clued up folk to help out mind

what i would do is remove them again, rearrange tank then leave a half hour floating the bag,hope that will help,

 

[Glenbo1981]

thats stange, i added 5 small keyholes and they were so shy at 1st

That is the keyword with Cichlids usually....They tend not show they're full personality until adulthood.

 

[Bebobb]

They are probally trying to establish their terrotory. I'm not the shurest, as keyholes are very placid cichlids. They should settle down in a whaile. Don't worry.

 

[meguro]

I'll try to get photos to help identify them but they look exactly like half the keyholes that google images gives. Only other tankmates are a betta and a peaceful tetra school. While they've chased and seemingly nipped other fish (ie. I've watched what looks like them biting), my other fish don't actually look damaged in any way.

They're about 1-2cm tall and 3-4cm long including (damaged) fins, so they're fairly small. For comparison my rams are about 2-3cm tall and 4-6cm long including fins, even body to body the rams are larger.

I figured it might just be a way for them to find their place in the tank, I just hadn't read of this behaviour in keyholes before. I just hope my rams colour up properly again, I was going to take some photos but hadn't got around to it yet. I added the keyholes without considering how it might affect my rams colour, which sucks because they looked better than many I've seen.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Bebobb]

It seems as the tetras woudnip the fis of the b,

 

[ALW]

They are trying to establish their terrotory. As keyholes are very placid cichlids. They should settle down in a while. Don't worry.

Agreed

 

[snowflake311]

When I added my Keyholes they got picked on by my balloon ram who was CRAZY. But they never went after anyone. I still have my one male keyhole and he is very peaceful but is not a push over. They are just adjusting to the tank and letting everyone know they are here and watch out.

Could be male and female and they might be thinking of breeding. OR look around for eggs because it almost sounds like they might be setting up to breed. even so called peaceful cichlids get aggressive when it's breeding time.

Stress will effect your rams color and it will fully come back once they are no longer stressed.

 

[meguro]

After the last 24h they've settled in a little more. Aren't quite as aggressive now. They don't chase other fish as much and they don't square off with my other fish and try to intimidate them (namely rams/angelfish). They're still a little nippy though, my angelfish have slight damage but my rams seem to be ignored by the keyholes now. They're no longer harassing my corys or bn either.

The bolivian rams are also starting to get some colour back, which must be a good sign.

edit: ill try to get pics sometime