Warring Laetacara

[Flute]

So a while back I posted in a bit of a panic about how it seemed that my male Laetacara araguaiae was dying. He went blind, lost all of his colour, and was floating at the top of the tank. No other fish were showing the same symptoms, and I couldn't match his to anything. At the same time my female Laetacara started being a right bully, and so I took the chance and moved my male to a much smaller tank to get him away from her. He's currently in a 60 ltr (not ideal I know, but it was that or let him die), and although still blind he's learnt how to be hand fed really well. My bf noticed today that his colouration has come back (something I'm really chuffed about, as I was convinced he was going to die), but of course he is still blind. He doesn't move around all that much, but is still eating well.

The tank he is in is right next to his old one. The female can see him through the glass, and every time she does, apparently she goes into a frenzy and tries to attack him. So this is where my problem begins. Obviously the 60 ltr is far too small to house him long term, but I'm afraid that if I move him back to the big tank then the female will hound him to death.

Right before I separated him, he started getting marks on his head and flank, and after seeing the females reaction through the glass, my bf now thinks that she was taking chunks out of him. They've been together since the beginning of September, and all was fine until recently.

What on earth am I supposed to do? I can't keep him in the 60ltr long term, and if I add him to the larger tank then the female would probably kill him. The only thing I can think of is re-homing one of them, but a.) I've never done this and it's not something I really want to do, b.) Laetacara araguaiae don't seem to be very common, and who would want an aggressive female, c.)which leaves me with who would want a blind male? D:

I'd love any suggestions on what to do, as I'm really stumped

 

[hamfist]

With decent filtration I see no reason why you cannot keep him in the 60 litre for the moment. Your (and his) options are very limited because, as you say, who will want him, being blind.
In your own words, he doesn't move around much, so he won't miss the space of a large tank. You could plan to upgrade the tank as much as possible whenever you can.
The female may, of course, also not be particularly aggressive in a diffrent setup with different fish. I'd be tempted to move her on, where she may well settle into a lovely fish for someone else's setup. Many cichlids are particularly aggressive towards conspecifics (ie. same species) but quite mild mannered to others.
Your only other real option is to find a fishy saint who rehomes lost causes.

 

[Flute]

Thanks for the reply Hamfist ^^

I wish I could upgrade the 60 ltr, but as I still live with my parents it's a complete no no I'm afraid. I don't know how I've even gotten away with 3 tanks so far, but mother has put her foot down on any more I'm glad to hear that he'll be ok in there though for a little while at least ^^

I was thinking that too, that she might behave completely different in another tank. She doesn't appear to be aggressive to any of my other fish, apart from a little bit of a flare every now and then. No where near as bad as with the male.
Do you think it would be worth advertising her in the classified section? I've never been one to swap fish or move them on, but in this case I think it would be what's best for both of them. I'd rather keep the male purely because he needs hand feeding, and because he's shown to be a little fighter so far.

If the female was re-homed, I think the male would be ok in the 200ltr again. All I have in there are a group of female betta who keep to themselves, a pearl gourami and a bristle nose plec. He can tell when food is present and makes his way to the top of the tank where we then feed him by hand.

 

[hamfist]

Definately worth seeing if anyone else wants her. Best place to advertise is definatelt the cichlids section on the aquarist classifieds website ...... sorry the site seems to be "down" right at the moment so can't give a direct link.