leleupi problems

[PumaWard]

Hey all,

So I have a problem posed in my Tanganyikan tank that I don't quite know how I'm going to solve.

I have a now adult leleupi (that I believe is a male) in my 30g breeder (dim. 18'' w X 30'' l X 12'' t) Tang tank that has now become King of my tank. My adult female transcriptus used to keep his aggression in check until he went and got bigger than her and now she lets him bully her around. The tank has plenty of rock work, so all the other tangs in the tank have places to go, except I don't get to see them at all because the leleupi dominants the open swimming space.

Other inhabitants:
M/F pair J. transcriptus
M/F pair N. brevis
M/F pair A. calvus
M/F non-pair N. leleupi
clown pleco

Here's a picture of the tank so you can see layout (problem fish to the left
http://pic9.picturetrail.com/VOL284/1945470/3758438/79875262.jpg

I would like to avoid removing him if at all possible (I don't have anywhere to put him and he's too pretty of a fish to return to the LFS for a few dollars credit). I've tried dither fish with little success.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Tangs can be very aggressive, especially if they are larger than he rest. A 30g is probebly too small for them, and he will easily dominate the tank. I suggest removing them, or else you will probebly end up with some deaths. You have enough rockwork which leads me to believe you cannot improve the situation, your just gonna have to move him.

I got this from: http://www.gcca.net/fom/Neolamprologus_leleupi.htm
"One mistake I made is assuming that they would breed in a community tank with other cichlids. I waited in vain for months before moving these fish to breeding tank. I believe a sanitary tank not only isn't necessary, but may hinder the pair from raising the fry. I feel that a tank with algae and some detritus is actually helpful in providing a first food for the fry."

[Cloud-9]

I don't really have any advise since I have no experience with the fish that you mentioned in your posts. However, I just want to say that I like the way your tank looks. It looks good. What type of sand are you using?

[Jayhawk]

I think your only option is going to be to remove the leulupi pair - you should get good credit for turning in a m/f. They are more aggressive than anyone else in your tank, and that many pairs in a 30 breeder is quite a few fish for a tang tank. I think the brevis, julies and altos in there would be a great tank.

Eric