I have two firemouth babies,they are probably like 1-1.5 inches.i do notice one them is a little bit bigger than the other maybe by half an inch.an one keeps picking on the other i m not sure if they are playing or if hes killing them.there babies after all so i dont think they know what violence is?
2007-07-31 04:50:05 · 5 answers · asked by charlie lakeo 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
So are you saying go buy more?i am keeping them in a ten gallon tank till they get a little bit bigger just until they cant fit in an oscars mouth.As for buying more firemouths i dont know.
2007-07-31 04:58:48 · update #1
To start with you need a bigger tank.Fire mouths require at least a 20 gallon they are fighting partly because they are to crowded.Don't get any more and unless you can get a bigger tank I would return or rehome one of them.Your tank should be ok for just one fire mouth alone but nothing else.
2007-07-31 05:14:51 · answer #1 · answered by Jackp1ne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, they do fight. It's important to start off with groups when they are young, so that aggression is dispersed as they sort out their hierarchy, and that way at least a pair will form from the group - these types of cichlids only get along with their select mate, and otherwise their natural instinct is hostile, so it's important to learn how to keep them properly.
Well, a 10 gallon is too small and they will be all that much more aggressive because of it. Be careful mixing cichlids - they are enemies by nature and best in species tanks, and a grown Oscar can give a grown firemouth all sorts of problems. No, I wouldn't buy more in such a tiny tank, and not until you've researched these kinds of fish.
2007-07-31 11:55:41 · answer #2 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are young, but probably old enough to start fighting over territory as well as starting to breed. What you are seeing could be either one of those things. If either one is guarding a part of the tank or trying to clear off an area and move the gravel, I would say it's breeding behavior. They are a bit small to breed, but they will begin the actions even at a small size and young age. If not, then it's a problem with two males fighting. There really isn't a solution except to separate them.
MM
2007-07-31 12:32:51 · answer #3 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a good idea keeping them in a growout tank, but that might not keep the oscar from munching on them even when they're a little bigger. Cichlids are agressive fish, that's part of the fun of having them, and yes, having more will distribute the agression among them so that one won't recieve all the beatings.
2007-07-31 12:13:59 · answer #4 · answered by PoseidenNeptuneReturns 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no your doing everything WRONG
2007-07-31 12:00:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋