Unbalanced My Tank Removing Females

[Sawdoc]

I recently removed my females from my cichild tank and after 2 weeks all hell broke out with the males fighting
I've never before and resulted in 2 fish being killed and after some reading it seems it was down to removing 3 females and just leaving the males in there so luckily I got back 1 of the females from lfs and brought 2 more and fingers crossed it seems to have settled down.
You never stop learning about this breed of fish and although it's says u can have just male tank but must be done from juveniles so hopefully this might help others in the future only down side is will be full of fry in a month or so but sooner that than the males killing each other.

 

[kiriyama]

Just out of couriosity, what kind of cichlids are they ?


Cheers, Sean

 

[Sawdoc]

Malawi cichlids

 

[rifty]

mbuna or haps?
never had issues removing females from either type setups but found male mbuna will sill fight as they are more agressive with regards to space in the tank and pecking order.
you might find by adding females just another excuse for a scrap

 

[Sawdoc]

mbuna or haps?
never had issues removing females from either type setups but found male mbuna will sill fight as they are more agressive with regards to space in the tank and pecking order.
you might find by adding females just another excuse for a scrap

Mbuna m8 and wouldn't believe it with my own eyes but putting females back as settled the whole tank down to where I have had it for over a year so can only go on my experience.

 

[rifty]

you might of made it worse by reducing the amount of fish in the set up tbh mbuna dont generally work all male ou dont get the best colours from them with out females plus they expand territories to find females hence the increased agression might of been from steping on toes so to speak

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I have three Mbuna in a 55g (yes I know, not enough, right?) But they are living in harmony. Decrease in numbers may not have been the cause as I have low numbers and the only problem I ever had was owning a Red Zebra. Once he was gone, my three that are left are happy fish. No injuries, no fighting, and no stress. I have only had them for 3 months, but this is my experience that sometimes numbers do not matter.

 

[rifty]

3 mbuna in a 55g would work also as very low numbers would give enough space for each fish too i keep 2 trios of mbuna in 55g tanks no issues 1 male 2 females of each.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Mine are all different species. I think they are all female though. I wanted to add more, but when I saw how harmonious the tank is for these three, I'm skeptical on uprooting the happiness. Plus, my biggest girl is abuot 7 inches. I worry about over stocking. My 75g is where its at though. Its over stocked now, but the fish are small. I got three rescues that I need to find homes for. But the current stocking is 3 varius Viejas, 1 jewel cichlid, 2 severums, and and upsidedown cat.

 

[Malawi MaD]

Mine are all different species. I think they are all female though. I wanted to add more, but when I saw how harmonious the tank is for these three, I'm skeptical on uprooting the happiness. Plus, my biggest girl is abuot 7 inches. I worry about over stocking. My 75g is where its at though. Its over stocked now, but the fish are small. I got three rescues that I need to find homes for. But the current stocking is 3 varius Viejas, 1 jewel cichlid, 2 severums, and and upsidedown cat.

You should add a few more mbuna di, you have the space to. Just move the rocks around a little, take your current fish out for 10 to 15 mins to let your new fish settle a little, then add your current fish back in the tank. Then they shouldn't be as aggressive with the new stock

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Mbuna takes money lol. I don't have any lol