need some help...........

[johnnynoxville]

hello all,
i would like some thoughts about my tank from the members here.

first off its a 55gallon., aquaclear 500 filter, crushed coral substrated, plenty of hiding spots and (fake)plants....water quality is perfect....etc etc......

residents:
1 tangerine peacock(male)
1 taiwan reef(male?)
1 venustus(female)
1 yellow peacock(female holding eggs)
2 yellow labs(1male 1female)
1 ahli(male)
1 sulfur??(male)-resembles ahli, bit more red though.....
1 synodontis ocefellar(sp)
1 synodontis eupt.(sp)

all fish are smallish still 2"-4"(sorry not good on measurements)
they are all showing their colors(male, female)
first off.....
i welcome any thoughts on my lineup........good or bad???
and also my tangerine(tank boss) is kicking the crap out of the venustus.........and only the venustus! the venustus gets harrassed constantly and the rest of the "gang" only gets the occasional nip here and there....
just wondering why?
what can be done?
also, i was thinkin of adding two more smallish peacocks(or similar) over the weekend to help "overstock"......
any thoughts on this?

thanks all for reading and helping me with this!
it is much appreciateD

[scholar]

For now you are oK. 55G is too small to do over crowding. The fish can not get lost in small tank of this size. Beside you have mellow fishwhich do not need to be overcrowded.

Venustus gets too big for 55G. If you can trade her with another female yellow electric.

In the long run you may need a six feet long tank. Specailly if youwant to add two more peacocks.

Goodd luck, :)

[jimbo]

Not sure why the tangerine is attacking the venustus, could be any reason. Perhaps it has something to do with the venustus being a predator and the limited space of the tank. However, that's just a speculation.

I am with the suggestion Scholar has made. The venustus will eventually grow up to 10/12 inches and could become a threat for some smaller inhabitants.

Jimmy

[valerie]

I would return the yellow female peacock and get another peacock o fthe same species as your male tangerine. Common names are hard so make sure they are the same species and try to get scientific names if you can.

I also agree that the venustus will get too big and should be returned of given away. Your Syno. eupterus will get up to 9" and is a pretty heafty fish. It might cause problems down the road as they eat anyhtign taht will fit into their mouths(smaller fish, fry).

be careful about hybrids. If your female peacock isn't the same as the male don't save the babies unless you keep them and dont' sell them. If you are breeding them only have one species per tank.

[johnnynoxville]

the only reason the female yellow peacock is in the tank is because i bought her as a juvy hoping she was a he!
i have no desire to have fry.......im not emotionally ready:D
my labs have mated already in the past..........

does anyone think the reason the tangerine peacock is beating on the venustus is because the yellow female is holding his eggs?

[valerie]

I think the peacock is beating up your venustus because the peacock is the dominant fish in the tank. He probably thinks the venustus is a threat. Make sure you have lots of hiding places for the venustus to go and try to break up the line of sight by adding rocks or plants. IF the peacock can see him he will keep picking on him.