I have a 60 gallon tank, with huge black mollies, silver dollars, some tiger loaches, and sword tails. My friend recently gifted me 2 Melanochromis Auratus. They are around 5-6cm in length. I was wondering if they would harm my other fish or not? I researched that these fish are aggressive. But, is it possible that my tank thrives healthyly with these auratus' around?
2007-02-26 20:58:57 · 4 answers · asked by Hansu 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Auratus Cichlid was one of the first cichlids to be exported from Lake Malawi. The males are extremely aggressive towards other males and will try to kill any other male of its species.
I have 4 of M. aurtaus in my community cichlid tank, and they get along well with all the other Cichlids (5 different kinds). I think the secret is that all the fish were placed in the tank at the same time, all were babies at that time, everyone grew up together, and everyone staked out territories. There's the odd fin nipping, and lots of chasing about, but no major damage to any of the other fish (so far!!!). I have had them all together for about 2 years now, and most have matured and are getting ready to breed, so the agression may come out now.
You should be careful with the Silver Dollars because they are very prone to attacks and are themselves "jumpy" fish that gets a heart attack easily. The other fishes you have in your tank may go ok-dokey with the Auratus.
Provide plenty of rockwork and caves.
2007-02-26 21:57:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, there are several reasons not to keep all those fish together.
First, as others have said the auratus will start to bully and kill the other fish very soon if they haven't already.
Second, the auratus need harder, higher pH water than the others you have listed.
I would suggest you get a tank just for the auratus as soon as possible. A 20 "long" style or 30 gallon would be great for them with crushed coral on the bottom and plenty of rock caves. The will love it.
MM
2007-02-27 08:30:40 · answer #2 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would not recommend adding any type of Cichlid into your tank. First the water temps might need to be a bit warmer for them to live in. But most of all Cichlid should only live with other cichlid because as you have read they are aggressive and will bully or kill any fish that they can. Which is most of the fish in you tank at the moment. Best to get them in their own tank
Melanochromis auratus is an aggressive fish and intolerant of others in its territory. The set up should be a typical Lake Malawi biotope. Provide plenty of rockwork and caves with hard alkaline water with a pH of at least 7.5. The bottom substrate should be of a material that will aid in the pH buffering capabilities of the water. Good substrate choices could be Dolomite or crushed coral to aid in buffering the water. Tankmates should be from the same area and be able to fend off their attentions. Feeding is not difficult as they will accept all types of flake frozen or live. In their home territory they would graze of the algae covered rocks called Aufwuchs, so it is important to supplement with food containing spirulina and this should be given regularly
2007-02-27 05:12:10 · answer #3 · answered by debcat76135 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your current cichlids are peaceful ones... but this african one sounds very aggressive... even if they're ok when they're all small, it doesn't mean it will stay the same when they all get bigger. Better to be safe rather than sorry.. either take the africans back to an aquarium and trade them in or get another tank to house them.
2007-02-27 20:36:00 · answer #4 · answered by KittyKatharina 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋