What do i do!?!?

[leprshaun]

So for the past 6 months or so ive had a 10 gallon tank with a Orange Peacock, he has sucesfully killed 5 africans and almost killed an oscar since then THe only fish that has survived is a dwarf spotted puffer, and a chinese algae eater both of which he never realy bothers. (???). So i figured it was time for a bigger tank. I bought a 40 gal and transfered the fish into it; the peacock, and 2 africans, the pufferfish, and the chinese algae eater and i added another oscar) I figured if he had some room, he would settle down but hes just getting worse, hes started tearing up the new tank, uprooting all my plants, and diggin up rocks. Also if anything he has gotten worse as a bully, he nips at ALL the fish, even the oscar is terrified of him, i dunno what to do but im starting to regret getting agressive fish. This fish although he is goregous has caused me more greif then any fish ive ever owned. I thought about getting rid of him but i dont like flushing fish so i figured i coudl take him to a local petstore and sell him, does anyone know what a ~3 inch orange peacock is worth, hes not like those sunshines, hes BRIGHT orange, and doesnt show any stripes like most chiclids do, solid orange color with hints of blue in his scales. I had a friend tell me he saw one simliar for 40 bucks but that sounded kinda high....I could take a picture if it would help. I hate to say it but i think im gonna have to go the peacfull route...mb get some fish that will school in the tank. SO any advice on how to get him to chill, or how much he would be worth at a store would be GREAT, thank u guys!

 

[CFC]

You will probably have to give the fish away for nothing, African Cichlids are common and easy to breed so most stores are unlikely to pay you much or anything at all for them. Your tank is too small for the majority of Cichlids due to their need for territories, oscars shoud not be kept in any tank below 55 gallons and even that is considered small for a fish that will grow to at least 12 inches. Puffer fish should only be kept in species tank or with VERY select tankmates.
You should return ALL your fish and have a serious rethink on what fish you want to keep or buy a bigger tank of at least 75 gallons. I understand that the small brightly coloured Cichlids you see in the store dont look like they need big tanks but the hard fact of the matter is they do. With small tanks (under 55g) you can only stock dwarf Cichlids such as Rams, Appistogramma and Kribensis or stick to general community fish which dont have needs for territories as much.

 

[Ben]

to the forums

i suggest you take a read at the pinned topic in the New World Cichlids forum about Dwarf Cichlids,as that will inform you on what you can get,also read the pinned topic in African Cichlids which would help you with your cichlids

listen to CFCs advice and take back the fish, it will benifit you and the fish too

HTH

DD