Sajica pair problems

[rvm]

I have a breeding pair of Sajica Cichlids (similar to convicts) and they have always been fine up until I moved them into their own tank a few days ago. This morning I noticed that the female was in a really bad way, but I think I've figured out why. The male seems to be attacking her constantly.
I have separated the feamle into a breeding trap so he can't get to her otherwise I think he'd kill her. I've also added Melafix as her fins are pretty badly torn up.
Is this normal behaviour, or has he just decided he's had enough of her and wants someone different?(!)
The new tank is a 20g and they share it with 6 khuli loaches, and 4 platies. Water quality is fine.
Please help, as the reason I separated them into their own tank was so they could breed successfully as every other time, they lost the fry to the other fish in the tank, and now it looks like all he wants to do is kill her!!

 

[duendecillo]

fish are very strange creatures...
I had the same problem with my cons, although it happened after they had fry.
I seperated the female into another tank, and the male then didn't want to eat anymore.
I guess he missed her...
Now they are together again (fry is in a separate tank), and they are not fighting.
I just hope he starts eating again too...

I guess my story doesn't really help you, but now you know yours are not the only strange fish...

 

[semper fi]

cichlids can be quite aggressive when spawning. males entice females to mate by dominating them. africans will try to spawn with holding females. you can seperate the two and condition the female. when she looks to be ready to spawn, put her back in with the male. could also try to add some dither fish to take some of the aggression off her.

 

[rvm]

There's 4 platies in there with them, and I think the problem is that the new tank is about half the size of the old one they were in (although less fish obviously; this tank was bought specifically for them) it's a 20g, do you think it's too small for them?? if so, I could move them to my 50g with a severum and put the Rainbow cichlids that are in there (not a breeding pair) in the 20g, but wouldn't the sev eat the fry?

 

[digital_run]

I had to buy a divider for my 29gal con tank. I use the fry for feeders in my 65. Everytime they spawn everything goes fine for the first day ...and then the male just beats her up. A couple of times its been serious and i though she was a gonner. Now i seperate them...let them male take care of the fry. I remove the fry and catch the male...i move the tank decor around and release him back in. Its worked great and she hasn't been hurt since. Dividers can be easily found at your Ifs and there not that expensive..

 

[rvm]

OMG what a day to not be able to get on here!!! yesterday, I got in to find that she had been practically killed by him, so I though enough is enough, and tried to move them to my 505 with the Severum. Only thing is I wasn't banking on the Severum taking really bad offence to this!! ever seen a full grown sev go really mad?? Poor sajicas were scared out of their wits. So I moved them back to the 20g, and he started beating her up again as if nothing has happened.
My plan now is to move them back to the 55g they were in originally and move the tiger barbs into the 20g. Would 8 tigers and 6 khulis be ok in the 20g?? Should be enough space for them shouldn't it??