Urgent Help Needed

[ckulahci]

Recently introduced 4 female Kadangos (red fin borleyi) and there are scales all around the bottom of the tank. The females are hurt by the male and the chase doesn't seem to stop. What shall I do? I can add several more fishes into that tank, mbuna type, to overcrowd or shall I remove the females asap to help them recover? But at the end I want the females to stay in harmony with the male.

The 350 l tank is very well established in terms of water parameters, plenty of rocks/caves, still this aggression. Why? Is this a matter of time? Will it ever end before I find anyone dead?

In addition to 5 borleyi's (1m 4f) there are 4 OB peacocks (1m 3f) + 1 synodontis catfish and 1 pleco.

 

[ckulahci]

would it be a good idea to introduce another male, a younger docile one. And perhaps in exchange of the existing dominant male?

 

[ckulahci]

perhaps I shouldn't say urgent.... this was very helpful indeed. thanks anyway...

I have removed the adult female to another tank where she now swims peacefully. She will need time to recover from the scratches. The remaining 3 (close-to-adult) females are now surprisingly getting along reasonably well with the male. If it goes like this, I will conclude that the adult female was provoking the sexual instincts of the male and the other 3 were getting their shares from the chaos.

In the meantime, with the aggression largely reduced, I believe these 3 females will adapt to the environment much more quickly and will establish their social status'. I'm hoping that the adult female will then have a chance to return to the main tank and breed. She's a beauty.

 

[kribensis12]

It's not the females fault. It's the fact that males are filled with hormones and he wants to breed. You probably need more females and more hiding places. Im not familar with the species, but it sounds like the male is the devil!

 

[fatheadminnow]

If you want to add more females, you probably want to add another male to the tank.

You should have 3 females to 1 male.

So, 6 females with 2 males should be okay, and so on.

-FHM