Keyhole Cichlid

[lowthy76]

hello everyone i have a very old set up tank and i purchased 4 juvenile keyhole cichlids about a year ago.
i think i have 4 males, and the largest is around 4 inches now, but the 2nd largest one is around 3 inches.
everything was normal in the tank untill about a week ago now my 2nd biggest keyhole seems to have taken residence over a large rock in the middle of the tank, and he is protecting it as its his property!
he splays his fin at the laargest keyhole and chases the other 2 away, along with any othert fish that swims past!!
anyway my question is it seems to be that he has no mate so to speak so can anyone explain this sudden change in his behaviour?

thanks dan

 

[Skins]

hello everyone i have a very old set up tank and i purchased 4 juvenile keyhole cichlids about a year ago.
i think i have 4 males, and the largest is around 4 inches now, but the 2nd largest one is around 3 inches.
everything was normal in the tank untill about a week ago now my 2nd biggest keyhole seems to have taken residence over a large rock in the middle of the tank, and he is protecting it as its his property!
he splays his fin at the laargest keyhole and chases the other 2 away, along with any othert fish that swims past!!
anyway my question is it seems to be that he has no mate so to speak so can anyone explain this sudden change in his behaviour?

thanks dan

Sounds like a territory issue and the keyhole in question has put his name on that area of the aquarium. You could try moving around ornaments to cut down on the aggression.

Keith.

 

[lowthy76]

hello everyone i have a very old set up tank and i purchased 4 juvenile keyhole cichlids about a year ago.
i think i have 4 males, and the largest is around 4 inches now, but the 2nd largest one is around 3 inches.
everything was normal in the tank untill about a week ago now my 2nd biggest keyhole seems to have taken residence over a large rock in the middle of the tank, and he is protecting it as its his property!
he splays his fin at the laargest keyhole and chases the other 2 away, along with any othert fish that swims past!!
anyway my question is it seems to be that he has no mate so to speak so can anyone explain this sudden change in his behaviour?

thanks dan

Sounds like a territory issue and the keyhole in question has put his name on that area of the aquarium. You could try moving around ornaments to cut down on the aggression.

Keith.

hello everyone i have a very old set up tank and i purchased 4 juvenile keyhole cichlids about a year ago.
i think i have 4 males, and the largest is around 4 inches now, but the 2nd largest one is around 3 inches.
everything was normal in the tank untill about a week ago now my 2nd biggest keyhole seems to have taken residence over a large rock in the middle of the tank, and he is protecting it as its his property!
he splays his fin at the laargest keyhole and chases the other 2 away, along with any othert fish that swims past!!
anyway my question is it seems to be that he has no mate so to speak so can anyone explain this sudden change in his behaviour?

thanks dan

Sounds like a territory issue and the keyhole in question has put his name on that area of the aquarium. You could try moving around ornaments to cut down on the aggression.

Keith.

thanks Keith but why now? when the set up has been the same the whole year they have been in it?