Hi all,
I recently added two parrot cichlids and a pleco to my new 55 gallon tank which already housed 6 tiger barbs and 3 silver dollars. I worried the cichlids would be too aggressive, but the guy at my local store said the tiger barbs could handle them. In fact, the older fish seem to have completely spooked them. The cichlids are constantly hiding behind plants and in holes in my decorations. They come out at feeding time, but two of the barbs routinely chase them back. One has occasionally vied for food, but never gets any.
I'm hoping the new tankmates will get used to each other eventually and the cichlids will start asserting themselves more, but is this something to worry about? There's no way to feed the cichlids individually, because the barbs and dollars just snatch up everything I put in the tank. I don't want the cichlids dying of undernourishment, but will they eventually get hungry enough that they'll start feeding?
In general, what should I do (if anything) about asymmetries in feeding, when there are one or two fish that are too timid to get any food? I lost one of my original tiger barbs because it was always chased away and hid while the others ate.
Thank you! Greg
I recently added two parrot cichlids and a pleco to my new 55 gallon tank which already housed 6 tiger barbs and 3 silver dollars. I worried the cichlids would be too aggressive, but the guy at my local store said the tiger barbs could handle them. In fact, the older fish seem to have completely spooked them. The cichlids are constantly hiding behind plants and in holes in my decorations. They come out at feeding time, but two of the barbs routinely chase them back. One has occasionally vied for food, but never gets any.
I'm hoping the new tankmates will get used to each other eventually and the cichlids will start asserting themselves more, but is this something to worry about? There's no way to feed the cichlids individually, because the barbs and dollars just snatch up everything I put in the tank. I don't want the cichlids dying of undernourishment, but will they eventually get hungry enough that they'll start feeding?
In general, what should I do (if anything) about asymmetries in feeding, when there are one or two fish that are too timid to get any food? I lost one of my original tiger barbs because it was always chased away and hid while the others ate.
Thank you! Greg
