Melanochromis Auratus Questions.

[Snake42490]

I have two auratus that have been together for a few months now. lately they have decided to should i say fight every chance they see eachother.. the tank is a 40 gallon with just the two of them in it... they have rocks and tons of places to hide.. the one wont let the other do anything.. literally the past 3 days its been cornered up top not allowed to go anywhere. im not really sure what to do. right now they are the only two fish in the tank. i was thinking about putting something down the middle to divide the fish just so the one could have some freedom.. i would like to here your suggestions though before doing anything. both fish eat really well.. and i would say are a little over 3 inches. i was also wondering if i were eventually to add any bottom fish.. what would you recommend? pleco.. syno etc? i would probably want to do a syno but not sure which you would recommend. i have petricola in my other tank and absolutely love them but would also like to see what some others are like. another quick question. the fish that is cornered.. it changes colors a lot.. i would say like once every 3 or 4 days.. its switches from what appears to be male back to looking like female? is that just switching sexes? thanks seth

 

[Feral123]

the bully is probably a dominante male and is bullying the other one so much because their is no females in the tank. so might i suggest getting some females

 

[Snake42490]

dont they have the ability to chance sexes in absence of a male / female? meaning that the one is sometimes changing into a female? if im even right haha... should it be 1/3 for males to females? or even more females?

 

[Ferris]

dont they have the ability to chance sexes in absence of a male / female? meaning that the one is sometimes changing into a female? if im even right haha... should it be 1/3 for males to females? or even more females?

Nope.

Understocking is probably a big factor - you have 2 of one of the most aggressive Mbuna species in a 40 gallon tank. The fish have nothing to focus on but each other, Mbuna tanks should be overstocked so that aggression is spread around and it's much harder for fish to be singled out. Returning 1 male and getting some females would be a start but may not stop the aggression - Auratus are very unpredictable and difficult to keep.

 

[Snake42490]

well until i could get some more to put in there would i be best to put a divider in the tank? what are some other fish that i could put in with them that would work fine? would electric blues work or something equally as aggressive as them?

 

[Ferris]

A divider would be a great temporary measure.

I would hesitate to reccommend any tankmates for Auratus due to their unpredictability. Obviously it is possible to keep them with other Mbuna but what works in 1 setup will not work in another - species only is the safest bet.

"Electric blue" can refer to lots of different species but is most commonly used to describe Sciaenochromis Ahli or Sciaenochromis Fryeri, neither of which are suitable as tankmates for Auratus or for a 40 gallon tank i'm afraid - they are both Hap species and get too big - sorry.

 

[Snake42490]

ok awesome. im going to work up a tank divider.. do you have any idea on something i could throw together at home and have it work? if not ill probably just go get one Thanks seth