M. johannii and M. Auratus

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

I am refraining from calling it a success but things have worked out the way I hoped they would. A couple weeks ago I put the much smaller auratus into the johannii's tank. The johannii had stopped coming out for food and was reluctant to even leave the cave so I added the auratus in hopes of bringing out the competitive nature of the johannii and also to show him, by way of another fish swimming around, that there were no predators to be hiding from.

Initially the johannii dominated every corner of the tank and the auratus was somewhat beat up. The auratus learned to hide in the few tight squeezes that the johannii could not get into. After a week the johannii was finally coming out to the bottom of the tank and the new flake food I bought sank to him and he ate it.

Then the auratus' fins healed up and he got brave. He had learned how to outmaneuver the johannii and was coming out to grab peices of food. Several days later the auratus was even rushing for the same peices of food as the johannii. Then, just a couple of days ago I came in and saw for the first time both of them swimming in the open without fighting. I put some floating pellets in and both of them came to feed from the surface.

Now, the auratus is noticably larger than when I first introduced him to the tank. Luckily the johannii is still the big fish in the tank and things are working out how I had hoped. Now I'm hoping the auratus does not grow so rapidly that it starts to show agression towards the johannii.

Just thought I'd share with you all, peace.

 

[freddyk]

Good to hear so far. Update when the Auratus does grow bigger - it's gonna happen and aggression inevitably increases with size.

 

[vantgE]

Still something you notice the auratus the one everyone warns about, is slowly takeing control, doesn't seem like you've made it up more like he's seting it up

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

Still something you notice the auratus the one everyone warns about, is slowly takeing control, doesn't seem like you've made it up more like he's seting it up

The auratus is waiting until hes powerful enough to take over the territory. I never had the intentions of them being great pals. I just wanted my johannii to start eating again.

 

[vantgE]

Oh still their are better choices goodluck anyways

As much as I don't like the idea I hear dithers do work great usualy rainbow fish or giant danios

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

I needed a fish that was strong enough to survive with a johannii, thats why I chose the auratus. I actually never thought of using dither fish. Why don't you like the idea of dither fish?

 

[vantgE]

It's not natural, and a little imoral buying a fish just to get chased and picked on, the Idea behind a dither is tha is is fast enough to get away so isn't injured and can't really hurt your cichlids either. But the johanni being the only fish is obviously going to get bored another mbuna is more effective at stimulateing it they get very bored when alone

 

[freddyk]

There are other Mbuna that would go well with Johanni - pretty much be ignored. If/When you are forced to remove the Auratus, just create a thread and get some ideas.

 

[Boxcar Muzzdogg]

Cool, thanks vantge and freddyk