what is killing my peacocks?

Question

i have a a 55 gallon aquarium with 2 yellow labs, a blue mbama, rusty, 2 kennyi, and 2 cichlids i cannot readily identlfy by name but one all orange and looks like a yellow lab and the other is a yellow finned something. i have added 2 peacocks and both have been killed as well as my blue joahnni. i am not sure which fish is the aggressor or what is killing them off. my tank has been up and running for 2 months and the ph is where it should be for cichlids. are johannis and peacocks just not compatible with my other cichlids? i am new to the cichlids world. please help.

Answer 1

You're mixing two different groups of african cichlids (mbuna and peacocks). While from the same lake (Lake Malawi) they occupy different environments within the lake.

Mbuna (which includes your yellow labs, mbamba, kenyi, etc) are much more aggressive and territorial than peacocks (which can be aggressive among each other but can't really compete with the likes of mbuna).

You also added the less aggressive type last (mbuna typically do not kindly accept newcomers unless they happen to be as or more aggressive than they are). By placing the lesser aggressive fish in a tank already containing territorial established mbuna is the major problem.

Secondly, by adding only two peacocks it makes it easier for them to be singled out. The peacocks would have fared better if the tank were larger and a half dozen were added (first).

Basically, peacocks do not belong (or thrive for long) in a mbuna dominated tank.

Solution: establish a peacock species tank (which would be awesome) or just get more mbuna.

Answer 2

Look to the kenyi as the the aggressors. Peacocks really shouldn't be with the more aggressive mbuna because you get this situation. If you want to keep peacocks get rid of the kenyi and a few others so all you have are labs, rusties and peacocks.

As for the johanni, it was killed because it was new or the kenyi saw it as a threat to it's status. When I add fish, I add them in groups so that no one fish can be targeted. Electric Blue johanni might be M. cyaneorhabdos and they are the least aggressive of the Melanochromis species. They might also be okay with peacocks. Also cichlids are not pairing fish, they are harem breeders. Males will harass a female to death. Find a good cichid forum and learn about your stocking options

Answer 3

I'm not real familiar with Africans, but I know they are very territorial. I had some awhile back, and the guy told me that you want to add them at the same time. And you want to get ones all around the same size. That way they can stake claim to their territories. Now you add a new one to a tank that's already got their own myspace, and havoc erupts. That's happened to me before, I'd added 3 fish at different times, only 1 made it and that's because I relocated him to another tank.
I just started going to these forums, seem pretty good and informative. Have lots more info about Africans there, I like them they're beautiful fish, but I just never got around to being serious with them.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/

http://www.aquariumboard.com/forums/home.php

Answer 4

Whoah, aren't Cichlids supposed to be kept in a species only tank? They'll attack fish much larger then themselves if they felt like it. Especially Africans. Further their salinity, water temps, and Ph levels are uniquely high. I'm not that into fish anymore, but that's what caught my eye here.

Answer 5

i think the peacocks are too gentle to be with the other africans
my husband used to raise them
i don't recognize the names of the fishes you listed but i know you have to be very careful with these type

Answer 6

Here's a link to specifics on the Cichlid species - hopefully it helps.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/cichlids.shtml

Good luck!

Answer 7

cichlids their very aggressive they like to eat other fish not flakes

Answer 8

cychlids are aggressive fish that eat your other fish

Answer 9

YOU MIXED SALT WATER AND FRESH WATER FISH

Answer 10

what