Why Are African Cichlid Agressive?

[Seastar]

Hi,im new so you mihgt find this a moranic guestion,but i noticed that a lot off african cichlid are agressive.
Why is this? Please awnser...

 

[onidrase]

It's a territory thing. You'd be pretty aggressive to others too if people were randomly waltzing into your house now and again. Same goes with most fish. Their territory is like their house, and if people go in it, they chase them out. It's pretty natural for more living creatures.

 

[Seastar]

Oh,okay
Thanks

 

[Moby-Krib]

Well this is like asking why the sky is blue.. LOL just kidding.
Allot of reasons contribute to the aggressive nature of African Cichlid species,
The close quarters that they live in is likely #1, In the lake(s) a rock structure may be home to 100's of fish that live their entire life right there.
Mbuna are reluctant to risk open water in search of another less occupied neighborhood. this in turn leads to competition for food , territory and mates.
Over the course of 100's if not 1000's of years has developed the social traits seen today. Survival is key to these fish in the wild. And if you need to kick a little butt so be it right?
This is just my take and not a scientific explanation whatsoever.

 

[Seastar]

Oh,thats a lot clearer,thanks.

 

[Malawi MaD]

Is the aggression putting you off keeping african cichlids? They are really not that bad

As said above, survival of the fittest basically. Even though the lakes are huge, there is huge competition and plenty of predators that share the lake with the cichlids. So trying to survive and thrive at the same time causes a bit off confrontation

 

[Lufbramatt]

The rift lakes in africa are some of the oldest bodies of fresh water in the world, so the fish from those lakes are more highly evolved to suit thier niche in the environment, so their behavior is more highly developed as well- i.e. more aggressive fish win out over more placid fish in competition for the same area of the lake so those behaviour traits have become stronger and stronger as time goes on.

 

[Seastar]

Rihgt,thanks

 

[some thing fishy]

Your best way to keep Africans ,is in a crowded tank with plenty of rock work,,this seems to lessen their aggression,as each fish is watching out for its own tail.

 

[Yanks15]

"Mama said they're so aggressive because they got all them teeth and no tooth brush"

Sorry Waterboy couldn't help himself!!!!!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I have an african cichlid tank and with the right stocking it can be a pretty neat tank to watch. Of course I have some aggression, a few of them have nipped fins, and I have one really dominant blue zebra (he is a lot brighter than the other males). My tank is 75g and its pretty crowded, but as other say, I think this is why I haven't have any deaths. Rather than having a dominant male with 3 fish to bully, he gets to choose between 18 other fish. The fish seem happy. THey are vibrant, they are breeding (i keep finding random babies) and its a really neat tank to watch.