What A Morning

[star4]

I have had peace in my tanks for a couple of years now, but OMG this morning chaos!, I had forgotten just how bad a fish scrap can get, especially when its two big fish. My son came running into the kitchen soaked, Chops (oscar) and Bogie (chocolate cichlid) were fighting. By the time I got to the tank Chops was defeated, lying on his side at the surface gasping. There was water all up the walls, all over the desk in front of the tank (my son had been sitting there doing his schoolwork), the bird cage next to the tank was soaked. I have no idea what has set them off.
 
After a short while Chops recovered and I sat watching to make sure they didnt have another go, when Chops went at Bogie again, but because of Chop's deformity he cant open his mouth that wide and Bogie came back at him again after taking another hit on his deformed jaw enough was enough and knew this fight would not stop until one of them was dead,  so I caught Bogie and moved him to another tank, letting Chops recover. Bogie managed to soak me getting him out of the tank, and soaked me again as I put him in the other tank.
 
The problem is Bogie (who is a bit of a problem fish) is now in with my other problem fish Harry the red spotted severum, but Bogie is bigger than Harry and Harry is not amused! This is the 5th time now I have had to move Bogie, I am running out of tanks to put him in
 
Chops has fully recovered thankfully, just a few scrapes and bites that will heal in a few days.

 

[Wills]

Man that does not sound fun! Chocs can be viscous as well I remember mine when fully flaring sort of stuck his teeth out from the mouth and they have a proper row of teeth as well. Are they both going to recover ok?
 
When you say you have run out of tanks... are there any tank juggles that you could do to accommodate them all? Or is it time to move Boogie on?
 
Wills

 

[star4]

They should both be fine its all superficial damage, if I had left it much longer I think Chops would have been killed, he hasnt got the bite power of a normal oscar so he is a bit of an easy target.
 
My main problem at the moment is I have a 12-14" male true parrot taking up a rio 400 on his own and his ex partner in a rio 300, both these have been up for sale for months now but no interest (my failed breeding attempt, after all my waiting for a TP, they have turned out to be a nightmare ). Bogie has to stay here, he is a rescue and has some health issues, he cannot tollerate nitrate very well (I am lucky with unreadable traces in my tap water) so I can keep the nitrate unreadable, plus he gets re-occuring blister like abcesses, he arrived with these and its something that flares up from time to time, so I cannot really re-home him. If needed I have an empty 240 he could go into on his own for a while until my new 850l tank arrives.

 

[Mamashack]

Hope they both settle down now you have separated them. Hope Chops heals well and Bogie finds someone he can live with. 

 

[star4]

I hope so too, now Bogie is in with all males he should settle down (I hope). I think it was the female severum setting him off, watching him at the moment he seems quite content in his new surroundings, but I wont hold my breath, cichlids will do their own thing.

 

[Wills]

Ah thats a shame about the parrots i know its a bit of a trek but have you thought of taking them somewhere like wharf aquatics who would ultimately sell them to only the right tanks? Or you could try one of the specialist cichlid forums like ea cichlid or cichlidae not sure if you have tried that though?

I think your plan for the 240 will be fine.... But i have to say why is this the first im hearing of the 850!!!!!!!! That is very exciting

 

[star4]

My main problem is I have no transport at the moment so taking them anywhere is out at the moment sadly.
 
Do not worry my friend, pictures of the new tank will be posted (and boasted lol) once its here and installed (fingers crossed that is)

 

[snowflake311]

OH NO NOT YOU TOO... Big Cichlids are nothing but trouble. Why do we love them so?
 
You will get it all sorted out.  You got a True Parrot? I miss mine and wish I had kept him by himself. They are so pretty and smart. How big was the Parrot when you got it? How long did you have it for? They are very hard to breed. I read some place they take a long time to reach full sexual maturity.  
 
Have you tried Monster Fish Keepers forum. You might find someone on there that would want your true parrot.

 

[star4]

I got them about 4 years ago, they were 3" I swapped all my baby rotkeils for 3 of them, then managed to get another 2. I only have 3 left sadly though now, one female got killed by the big male, the smallest male who never did grow much died I am left with my monster male, monster female and another small male. The two I bought privately never grew very big. They are beautiful fish on their own, the female loves chasing the towel when I clean the glass outside. It was yours that made me fall in love with them

.
 
Pleased to report Chops is fine, wounds are healing already his pride is hurt more. Bogie has settled right in with Harry after a bit of squaring off both fish have decided its not worth the hassle fighting.

 

[Wills]

Ah glad to hear things have settled down
 
Wills

 

[star4]

I spoke too soon, woke this morning to find Bogie dead, stomach ripped out his mouth was a mess so he fought back, god only knows which fish did the damage, major bruising all around his stomach area, The weird thing is none of the other fish in the tank have a mark on them, not even lip locking scrapes
 
I am totally gutted, considering Bogie was rescued from a 2ft tank he managed to reach 12" including tail.
 
I am really upset, but I had no choice but to move him else it would have been Chops dead and Bodie has been in with the Urau before and they attacked him, he couldnt of gone in with Rusty or the other 2 tanks with TP's in, I couldnt have risked him in with the young goldlines and thayeri. Mad really with all the tanks I have moving one aggressive fish still ended with a death.

 

[fluttermoth]

Sorry for your loss, star 

 

[star4]

Thanks Fm, I have to say I am surprised he lasted as long as he did with all his problems, such a horried way to go though

 

[Wills]

Aww no, sounds like you are really going through it at the moment! Sorry to hear about the choc
 
Wills

 

[star4]

Thanks flower, its cichlids, there is always something to keep you on your toes.