Need help in solving fish problem?

Question

I have 20 gallon tank,it is inhabited by following members:
An Oscar 3"
2 Firemouths 1.5"
6 Morphs(African lake Malavi cichlids; lemon drop;albino;blue striped)
1"
Everytime the oscar is having a fight with the african cichlids which are sometime trying to bite its tail( till now not being successful in doing so), but r disturbing the oscar a lot, and sometimes the whole pack(morphs) is trying to do so.It mostly happens during the feeding time.
Ocasionally a short fight with the firemouth is also witnessed.
Though they r not hurting each other, but it seems to be a nuisance. So what could be the reason & proper solution to that?

I know about the territory well but the fishes are very young. Territory problem arises during or b4 mating time

If i remove africans, An Acara can be addad to it?

I dont want to keep the fish till it is old and dies n my aquariumafter 5-8yrs. The value for an oscar 6-9" is very high(maybe >$25), then I'll have some different fish in my aquarium.Till then a 20 gallon aquarium is sufficient as I suppose, but ur explanation is due welcomed.

Answer 1

your tank is way to small....not enough personal space for the fishes. it is a territorial thing

Answer 2

First your tank is too small.

Second you've mixed African and south American chiclids together - a deadly match.

Although they can sometimes live together without killing each other when placed in a very large tank and when evenly numbered.

Your southamericans are out numbered by the africans, which is why they are attacking.

Get rid of the africans or the south americans. Don't keep both together please.

Also remember the cute little 3 inch oscar is going to grow into a big guy pretty soon. (About a year!) So he is going to need at least a 60 gallon tank to live in.

PS: Territory problems do not just occur during mating time. Many chiclids are always territorial. This is why they are such aggressive fish. When they get bigger and older - they are going to start to hurt each other.

PS: I don't know where you got your info on a large oscar being $25. It's very hard to find some who will accept an adult oscar for free! So whoever told you you can sell it and make some money lied. (PS They can live up to 30 years)

If you don't plan on keeping the fish till it dies thats really sad. If all your after is something to use as a decoration when it's a baby - then you really should not own fish.

A 20 gallon aquarium is not suffiencient for now until you get bored of your fish and flush them after finding out it isn't that easy to sell them.

By your comments I feel you shouldn't really own fish. You do not know enough about caring for them - and you do not seem to care.

You own fish as a decoration and that is all. Which is wrong.

Answer 3

Bitter hit everything right on the nose, with the exception of how fast the oscar can grow, actually a lot quicker than a year. But, if you keep yours in that set up, you won't have to worry because it will die before that. Your territory issues are because the tank is too small, it's overcrowded, and the fish aren't compatible, regardless if they're breeding or not.

No, I wouldn't advise adding anything, even after getting rid of the Africans.

Oscars are messy and grow quite large, the minimum tank size should be a 55 gallon, by itself. I would recommend getting rid of the Africans and the Oscar, or purchase 2 55 gallons and rehome them. Or get rid of the Africans, buy a 75 gallon for the oscar and the firemouths.

I also suggest doing some quick research on the fish you own, or any you plan on buying-before you buy them to check for compatibility and care requirements as well as tank size.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=830

http://www.oscarfish.com/

http://www.aquariacentral.com/

http://www.fishforums.com/forum/

http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile43.html

http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile16.html

Answer 4

All these fish are cichlids. And it seems like you know a little about cichlids, but you are misinformed on one issue- cichlids are territorial and aggressive from birth although it does increase as they age and breed. The tank is really too small I might would try seperating some of the fish. If you don't resolve the issue the ability to sell the oscar when he grows a little will go away. Although they are not "hurting" one another the picking on each other will increase stress levels in all the fish leading to illnesses.

Answer 5

What are the dimensions of the janitor fish and Goldfish and what sort of Goldfish is it? Even without tooth that's achievable for the Goldfish to have eaten it. fantastically despite if that's sufficiently great just to suck it up and in good shape the entire factor in that's mouth. whilst introducing new fish such as you Janitor fish to you tank continuously, finished a water replace the day until now and rearrange each and every thing on your tank which includes dips interior the gravel, embellishes,..stuff like that. Your Goldfish sense like that's their tank and could get very territorial so by skill of rearranging each and every thing interior the tank it starts off your previous fish and your new fish yet back for gaining territory. i might propose cleansing your clear out too. it may desire to be too previous simply by discover the fish of their simply by fact the consistent heavy water pass might make it decay that plenty swifter yet whilst it did die and dissolve on your clear out it is going to easily be filtering Nitrites into your tank that could get all your goldfish unwell. reliable success with your secret! desire this helps!

Answer 6

i have lake Malawi chiclids.....south American( fire mouth.Texas,convict) and I tell you they have killed off one by one....South American Fire mouth....and other ones...don't really go together...i have a 100 gallon...and they fight like no tomorrow. Your 20 gal...is already to small. If I can Remember the rule...2 gallon to one inch..of fish....so before Christmas comes...you'll be needed a bigger tank..I had Oscars before ...Picasso, and Monet...they each grew to 11 inches long. They will fight...and no stopping them. I have bought another tank to do some separating...but keep in mind,that chiclids really are not a group fish....i would n't buy anymore right now.....

Answer 7

i would buy a tank for the African cichilids they are there own fish they sometimes don't like each other its like school of them.it may be too many fish for a 20gallon the five are sufficient but the fish will grow and they will stay alive i know your not wanting them for six years but they will stay awhile so just think about separation and why not have two tanks fish are very neat to watch.all your fish are aggressive but that doesn't mean they can live together.most of your fish are not compatible.

Answer 8

I believe the rule is 3 inches of fish per 10 gallons of water..also if the tank is 20 gallons , you have to remember to subtract gravel and decorations, this would make your tank about 17 gallons. one more thing you shouldn't mix Africans and south Americans together..they never get along..

Answer 9

I was told your not to put those fish in the same tank. You might want to check in to it. They will kill each other. I did have a oscar for about 3 years and they always said nothing can be in the tank with it.

Answer 10

Maybe your pet store will take some of those fish back in trade for fish food, equipment, or as a downpayment on a bigger tank?

I'm sorry to say it again but that's too many fish for a tank that size. Even if they were all non-aggressive fish you'd be in for a disaster.

Answer 11

2 problems.

1. your aquarium is too small for cichlids
2. You are mixing south american and african ciclids. african ciclids are much more agressive than south american and should not be mixed. Your oscar will grow to 12"+ and can be kept with fire mouths in a 35 gallon aquarium (or larger). i have done it in the past and the firemouth had numerous batches of fry.