Why is my African Cihclid so aggressive?

Question

I have a Electric blue striped cichlid,he's about 3 inches.He killed two other cichlids,so I got a big 5 inch Oscar to join him in the tank.This mean cichlid chased the other bigger fish-it looked like they were spinning around in a tornado.The Oscar lost and was wounded badly,so I removed the mean one temporarily.Is there any hope of keeping him with other fish?or will he forever be mean?

It's a 40 gallon tank.

Answer 1

It's his nature to be territorial, so he'll be aggressive to other fish - especially if they're smaller or put in the tank after he's established his territory. Also if they're of the same species and gender because of competition for mates.

Some things for you to consider:

What's the size of your tank? Electric blues may look cool at the store when they're about 2-3 inches, but you have to realize this will grow into an 8 inch bully. You should have a 70-90 gallon tank to keep one.

Do you have lots of rocks where he can establish his own territory (and keeps other fish in neighboring territories out of sight)?

African cichlids and South/cental American cichlids come from areas with different water water characteristics (hardness, salinity, pH) so aren't good tankmates. You need to base your choices on fish that need similar environments.

If you have a large enough tank, get several cichlids - not just 1-2. The more fish you have, the more the aggression will be spread around. Just make sure the tankmates are similar in size and temperment so they can stand up to the bullying. See these links for some compatible tankmates: http://www.timstropicals.com/Compatibility/NameResults.asp
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/

When you add new fish, take the bully out and rearrange the decor. This destroys the existing territory, so all the fish have to start from scratch. No one fish has a "home" to defend.

Answer 2

Don't mix African cichlids with new world cichlids like Oscars, plain and simple.

African cichlids tend to be aggressive, and yours is especially so, and that's why they're meant to be researched and kept appropriately, in groups of it's own kind with one male to several females, and with other African tankmates that don't look the same and are of similar temperment, with rockscaped decoration (they are rock dwellers after all) and preferably in a tank 4 feet in length.

I would suggest choosing between a new world cichlid tank, in which case your Oscar more then fills up your tank and there is no room for other fish (Oscars reach over 12 inches long) or an African tank, in which case there is plenty of research involved to do it right, starting with which species are suitable to your size of tank. Your 'electric blue', which I'm assuming is the mbuna 'electric blue' won't get to more then 4-5 inches long, but his aggression demands a large tank anyway.

To learn about them, start at cichlid-forum.com - best cichlid site around.

Answer 3

well, first off, how big is your tank? I absolutely need to know the size of your tank. It is vital for almost every fish related question. But, most african cichlids are agressive. but seriously, you need to post the size of your tank.

PB_Genx, youre wrong. Why do ppl say thing like "all of this kind of fish is this..." its totally wrong! discus, rams, and apistos are totally mild mannered.


OK, I think I get the problem. Your cichlid will always be agressive. However, your oscar will eventually get to be a foot long, so you should return him anyway, or buy a 75 gallon tank. If you want your cichlid to relax, then add a huge amount of rocks with lots of places to hide in. For tankmates, use other africans. With a lot of rocks, each fish will find its own crevice for teritory. That will diffuse agression.

Answer 4

He is just a aggressive species.You should not have him with an oscar anyway because they are form different parts of the world and it's best not to mix American and African cichlids.Some things that may help are providing many hiding places(3-4 per cichlid) but I think your tank is to small anyway for any fish but him.

Answer 5

Well since he even wounded the oscar badly I'm sorry to say that he may need to be sent back to the store or you can sell him or keep him in a tank by himself. Personally I've had this problem and I sent the fish back to the store and explained what happened and asked if I could exchange the one I bought for another one. And they let me and the male I have now doesnt fight with the other fish.

Answer 6

in easy terms utilizing certainty its on youtube doesnt propose its basically right. For the main area, Africans are particularly too rowdy for the human beings. on party, you will get a astounding mixture regardless of the certainty that, yet optimal human beings get alot greater beneficial effective than the Africans, so as that ought to replace precise right into a project. as precise, the fout foot tank you have is possibly in easy terms sufficiently huge for the dempseys. Its probable sixty 5-ninety gallons. in case you have a pair of dempseys, Im uncertain why you're attempting to characteristic subject matters, they are going to incredibly be killed...

Answer 7

And here is your answer from an African Cichlid owner of 8 years. You have an electric blue yohanni African Cichlid from Lake Milawi in africa. These fish are extremely wonderful in their color and are very hearty, being able to endure almost any hard water. They live for years, mine is now 8 years old. He is wonderful, and watches every move I make in the room, even demanding food by swishing his tail against the glass thermometer to get my attention. The fish will however, not EVER tolerate ANY other fish in their tank. They are extremely possesive of their area, and they consider the tank to be theirs, and theirs alone. They will only tolerate a female of their own species during breeding time. After the mating however, the femail must be removed or he will kill her. Even if she survives and the young are born, he will kill them all, eating them alive. These fish are very happy and content to live alone in their tank. Don't worry, they won't be unhappy. They will make you the entire focus of their attention from morning till night. They are good fish, but they are extremely agressive because they are designed to live in a large lake. Their swimming territory in a lake is know to be at least 5 miles square. Any fish he finds within his 5 mile square territory, he will do battle to the deat, and usually win no matter the size of the other fish. If you keep him alnoe in his tank, mine is in a 20 gallon high tank, he will thrive for years and will make a great pet, because living alone, he will focus upon you as his companion since you are not a threat to him outside of his tank. His tank is his home--his and his alone. Adding any other fish to his tank will sign that fishes death warrent--for sure. Good luck. Don't let his possesive nature thwart you from keeping him..Ii assure you, he will out live every single other fish you will ever own, and remain healthy and beautifull to boot--if you respect his right to own his tank. Again good luck..he sounds like a beautiful fish, and he will grow to be atleast 6 inches or longer.

Answer 8

All Cichlids are aggressive. So are Oscars. That's not a good match at all.

Answer 9

They are all agressive species whats with you is this a joke???(god i hope so) ask a reputable fish store for help or return the fish that you havent killed yet

Answer 10

they are just natuerally agressive.. It's what they do.. There not going to cuddle the fish... Its a territory.. mateing and food thing.. Many things are couasing its agrression.