Lonely Rainbow

[Frasier]

I have an adult male 8 year old Rainbow Cichlid that i have owned since he was very small. I originally had two females with him and he produced one baby with one of them. Over the last three years despite my best efforts both females and the young fish have passed away. The male has been on his own for just over a year as a couple of my local fish shops have said that he would be too territorial to put with any other fish. Can anyone give me any advice as to whether i could reintroduce him to any other type of cichlids or if he would be better off continuing living on his own. Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[shroob]

What size tank is he in? I would expect a rainbow cichlid can live with other fish, they are certainly not as aggressive as other cichlids but are still a cichlid. If the tank is big enough I see no reason why you couldn't add another fish, even a mate perhaps.

 

[Frasier]

Thanks for your reply. He is in a 2 foot tank but is about 6 inches long. Part of the problem i'm having is finding big enough Cichlids to put with him as i think that anything smaller he would hassle. He is quite aggressive and this might sound strange but has been know to face up to our cat at the front of the tank! Do you think a very small shoal of small cichlids rather than one larger cichlid would be better?

 

[shroob]

2ft is abit on the small side for other cichlid tankmates personally, though for non cichlids I would try some corys or a school of high bodied tetras. Though it depends on just how aggressive your fish is, with 2ft tank there isn't a lot of room really.

 

[Frasier]

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I will keep you updated.