cichlid pair problem; domestic violence in the tank

illgamma

AC Members
Mar 12, 2007
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Here's the story: Two months ago I bought 3 juvenile thomasi butterfly cichlids. These are similar to rams, I believe. When they matured the one male picked a female and paired up. they spawned once, unsuccessfully, and from then on kept attacking the other female. I took the unpaired female back to the store and soon after the pair spawned once again. That spawn was also unsuccessful and after the eggs were gone the pair seemed to break up and now the male is really violent towards the female.

What did I do wrong?

Is there anything I can do to fix it?

I thought I might get a bunch more of these cichlids and see if I can get another pair or two going. I really want to see a successful spawn, but the current pair doesnt seem to want to make amends.

BTW, the sig under here is no longer up to date, some fish have been removed due to over-stocking.
 
advice needed please.
 
Separate them with a divider. Give the female time to recuperate and try to remove the divider in a few days and see if violence has stopped. If not, consider changing one of them.
 
My cons have done this twice in the 16 or so months I've had them.

Numerous successful broods and then he would tear her up. I ended up putting up a divider for about 2 months. They started breeding again and then about 4 months ago the same thing but a different tank so the divider didn't fit. I added more plants and hiding spots but he'd still find her and chase her around nipping up her tail pretty good.

This went on for a few days and the day I came home and told my wife I'm just going to move him to the 15 gallon he stopped like he heard me. No problems since.

So either a divider or tell him he is getting his own tank.
 
This went on for a few days and the day I came home and told my wife I'm just going to move him to the 15 gallon he stopped like he heard me. No problems since.

So either a divider or tell him he is getting his own tank.

Lmao!
 
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