Salvini, JD, Convict?

[peifc]

Alright...this is somewhat an old story. One of my fish, Homer, is aggressive. So far, he has killed 4 fish. People said he is mixed with Red Devil. I don't doubt that after seeing what he did.

I still in need of a tank mate for him. He has killed his sister, a 4" Blood Parrot when Homer was just 2", a GT, and recently, an Oscar.

So...I am just wondering...how aggressive are Salvini, JD, and Convict. I heard all different opinions from people. I just hope that you guys being the fish owners...probably know the fish temperament more than I do.

Homer probably will be 10" big when he is fully grown, if indeed that he is mixed between Blood Parrot and Red Devil.

If you guys have other suggestion...I really appreciate that.

Thanks.

[dbcb314]

if it has too much red devil in him, he may be incompatible with anything

[peifc]

What's scary about Homer is that...he toys with the fish. He is a darn predator. He will act all sweet and kind. Next he chases the fish around the tank. I think that's how my Oscar got killed. My Oscar was taken by surprise. Poor guy.

[chevyII]

I think your getting rid of the wrong fish I think you should get rid homer. Or only have 1 fish.

[chevyII]

If you do plan to add a fish with him. I don't know if a Jack Dempsey will hold up I think some people over rate there aggressiveness. I would get one a little bigger then said Homer is now so it has a fighting chance. Also if you add another fish Completely re-arrange your entire tank setup so they will have an equal oppurtunity to make there territories. Homer already has his spots picked out so when a new fish is added he instantly protects. If you change his settings he won't have his favorite spot picked out yet.

[scott]

Refresh my memory, what size tank is it? Chevy is right you will need to rearrange. Of those three I would pick the convict but if he is going to be ten inches (isn't that extremely large I thought parrots only got to about six?) I would stay away from any of those three. You need something like a texas or maybe a motaguense or loiselle or fredrichstali.

[peifc]

The tank is 92 gallon.

Homer is territorial than I though. I like him just because he is mixed and aggressive while his siblings don't have the same aggression.

I have 2 caves, 2 corals, one small cave for my Loaches...where Homer can't squeeze in, and no plant. He has been unearthing whatever that is rooted so far. He loves to dig and move gravels around as well. He has been gaurding that 2 large caves. Been kicking out any fish tried to stay in there.

Blood Parrots have been reported to get as large as 9. I honestly believe Homer gets as big as 10, which includes his tail. His body probably will reach 7 or 8.

Do you really think Texas Cichlid is good for him? Is TC more aggressive than GT?

What other aggressive fish out there beside, Dovii, Trimac, Flowerhorn, Midas, and Jag. I guess I needed to know what's Homer's limit.

I do have another mix between BP and RD. That fish cowarded away from Homer, but get aggressive around other fish. I wonder if Homer can take on a real Red Devil.

[peifc]

Originally posted by chevyII
I think your getting rid of the wrong fish I think you should get rid homer. Or only have 1 fish.

Actually, I didn't get raid of any fish. Homer killed them all :) I put in any fish...he chased them to death. The only fish that he hasn't killed was a big Blood Parrot...that Homer actually followed that BP around like a puppy. Another fish that he occasionally picked on was a mix between BP and RD (Jade). The BPs have moved to the community tanks with Severums. Jade has moved to a smaller tank because that she was trying to eat the Loaches.

Right now Homer house in a big tank of 92 with 2 Loaches and Algae Eater. He chased those fish only if they got too near to his caves or the front of the tank (it is like he wants his own spotlight).

[scott]

Well I think you have two options.
1) Keep Homer by himself maybe only adding some dither fish but Homer being the central fish, maybe some red hooks or leporinus or something

2) Add another agressive fish. I don't think 92 gallons is enough though as this sounds like and odd sized tank....what are the dimensions? Cichlids need a large surface area. IME texas are far more aggressive than GT but of course it varies from fish to fish. Dovii, trimac etc that you listed will probably kill homer. They get much larger than ten inches and from what I have heard parrotts jaw structure is at a disadvantage to the large guapotes that is why I suggested the motaguense, fredrichstalli, and loiselle. All agressive but will only max out around ten to twelve inches.

Lastly the number of caves you have is less important than structure to break up line of sight.

All in all I would go with option one unless you feel like the trial and error method (which will involve probably more than one dead fish) in which case go for two.

[peifc]

92 gallons tank is the bow front corner...trying to save some space in the apartment. The tank is 3x3x4. I Already have another 72 bowfront long tank in the same room. Homer is still consider small in that tank. When he grows a bit more...I will upgrade the tank to a long tank.

He has the face of RD. Here is a picture of him...close up of his face. But his tail is the look of his mom's, Heart-shape parrot.

People think he is deformed, but all this siblings are like that. He has no problem with swimming or eating. He can close his mouth. And he has TEETH. He scratched my skin once when he was just 2" big. Now...I'm not sure how shape are his teeth and don't wanna test to find out. :)

http://www.peifc.com/Our_fish/109-0977_IMG.JPG

[scott]

I would still go with him as the only fish and maybe some dithers, a corner bow front is not an ideal tank for agressive cichlids, no matter how many gallons as it limits the actual footprint and ability to set territory.

If he can close his mouth maybe he could win a jaw wrestle but without a tail I don't know. Still he would never win against a sixteen inch dovii so I guess it doesn't matter. Like I said you can try whatever you want but it will be trial and error and one fish will die until you find a match. I'd go with just some dithers.

[peifc]

He already did a jaw wrestle with his sister. But the sister lost and died for it. His mouth can stratch pretty far, just like Red Devil.

It is a draw back for him being tailess. He doesn't have the same speed as his cousins, cichlids. He can swim fast, but not fast enough....if you know what I mean. If there is a race between a BP and Homer's swimming talent, Homer is lacking on speed, but I'm sure he will try to catch up and kill the opponent in order to win :p

[peifc]

I went to LFS and got a Danio. That fish is lightening fast that Homer is getting dizzy just looking at him swim. In fact, that seems to calm Homer down a bit.

Talked to the LFS, they told me not to get Jag. That will kill Homer without any question. They mentioned that with my ph (a bit higher than 7.5), I can keep a Frontosa or Aussie Arowana. LFS said the fish I have isn't unheard of. And their temparament is hard to deal with because if house with another Red Devil, they will fight to death. If house with other fish having the same aggression, Homer tends to calm down a bit.

I learned that last time Homer was trying to breed with my Blood Parrot. LFS said Homer goes a bit more aggressive than usual if he has fry. They probably end up killing every fish in the tank just to protect the young. OUCH! Now I'm stuck :) I guess I will just get dither and target fish for him until he can move to a bigger and better tank.

However, just want to update you guys. And thanks for all the info you gave me.

[dbcb314]

he said a frontosa or arowana with that fish? that doesnt sound right...

[peifc]

Aussie Arowana! This Arowana is aggressive and swim on the top (Homer is middle water swimmer), but...I told him I can't get that fish because eventually, Arowana will eat my Loaches or Danio...no way. Also, I think the ph is a bit high for Aussie Arowana (needs 7.0) even though this Arowana doesn't get as big as Silver Arowana, but I don't wanna end up killing it due to my water quality.

As for Frontosa...I'm not really sure...actually. I heard it is aggressive, but I don't know how aggressive. I don't wanna push that luck. I will do a bit more research before I but another cichlid in that tank. I already got a Danio...to get Homer's mind off about chasing fish. :p He has calmed down a bit. I'll throw in a few more oddballs and see how he reacts. If his reaction is bad...well, he needs to get his aggression out with another aggressive cichlid. If he is good around the oddballs, I will leave him be.

There are many to consider of. If you guys have any other suggestion, I really appreciate that.

Thanks.

[scott]

Danios do best in schools of five or more. One will get stressed out and die. Schooling fish school for protection, the more targets the less likely you are to get hit.

[OSUJeff]

I might suggest getting the dempsey, the salvini, and the convict and getting rid of homer. All three of these fish are beautiful naturally occurring fish. If you decide to keep homer I would leave him all by himself to ensure that he does not reproduce.

[chevyII]

Originally posted by OSUJeff
I would leave him all by himself to ensure that he does not reproduce.


LMAO I would have to agree thats one ugly fish ;)

[peifc]

Well, too bad. I'm keeping him. Might as well, throw in another fish for him to kill just for fun :p JK

[palehorse78]

it look like part midas to me

[peifc]

Some said he is Midas. Some said he is Red Devil. I don't care what he is anymore. He might be ugly and different, but he is aggressive and has a hell of personality :)