Nanochromis Parilus Help

[boston75]

First of all I am new to forums and have no idea what I am doing so please bear with me!

But I am really in need of some advice...

I have a community tank that I have been running for about 3 years and have two clown loaches that are of a good size now, I have a plec and various mollys, plateys, danios, tetra and guppies. (excuse my awful guess work spelling!)

I did have a sliver shark and another plec and a geophagus but they all died recently, at first I thought it might be the hot weather as there is nothing wrong with the water etc...

But I did also recently add a pair of nanochromis parilus at the advice of my stockist, I suddently thought that they might be the cause. Although I have not noticed any real aggression that I would be worried about I thought I'd check it out. I can't find any info on these fish on the net and the stockist wasn't much help.

Anyone got any experience with these fish or any advice?

Thank you!

 

[africantigerfish7]

The ones who you said died do tend to go to the bottom, and if your nanochromis are a pair and starting to breed they will definitely get more aggressive, especially towards bottom dwellers. Any breeding cichlid will defend its territory and bottom dwellers usually get the brunt of the aggression.

 

[4ftguppy]

How big were the fish that died? I know cichlids like to assert there authority - however little Nanochromis shouldn't be able to kill such fish that are typically much bigger. The plec surprises me the most..... and a silver shark

I'd keep an eye out - but Nanochromis require very soft water to breed - I would be surprised if they are about to breed in the presumably neutralish water that you keep the livebearers in (correct me if your tank is really soft and acidic, but if so, i'm surprised your mollys and platys are ok)

Could be a disease? Often if a new fish dies (particularly of a bacterial infection) and the others eat the body they can easily die too.

Have you considered this?

I would personally keep the Nanochromis in a species tank, with SOFT water and lots of worms to eat. They are a beautiful species, well worth breeding (and not easy to breed either, in my opinion).

Shops often recommend what theyhave in stock, and think you might buy, rather than what is good for your tank. I suggest you decide what fish is right - THEN go to the shop. Will save you a lot of heartache, money on unnecessary medicines, and the cost of the fish originally.

How much were your Nanochromis, if you don't mind me asking?