Noticed unusual cichlid behavior.

[DrDanke]

I just got my 2 new cichlids two days ago, and they are awesome. I choose 2 Labidochromis Caeruleus (Yellow Lab) and they are really fun to watch. While watching them, I seen one of them, while swimming around casually, get close to the bottom, and quickly power their bodies sideways so their sides kind of bump the bottom gravel and then quickly right themselves again and go right back swimming casually. I thought that was some weird behavior. Then a while later, I seen my other cichlid do the exact same thing! Does anyone else's cichlids do this? Why do they do this? Marking their territory?

BTW.. my 10 gallon tank is over a year old now, and all but 1 of my original Tiger Barb's have died over the time. I purchased these 2 yellow labs, because I think cichlids are the most fascinating and beautiful freshwater fish. I realize that cichlids in a 10 gallon tank is a no no, but I thought I would try. The two yellow labs I bought are about 1.5"-2" long and they are loving the tank. The day I put them in the tank with the older tiger barb, they spent the day chasing each other around the tank, but now that they know each other, I'm very suprised at how nicely they get along. The 2 cichlids tought the tiger barb to casually peck along the bottom of the tank for food, and that's what they spend most of the day doing. I'm not seeing any agression towards one another anymore and they are doing awesome.

I also got these two cichlids as a reason to someday get a larger tank when the time comes and they get larger.

So far, I couldn't be happier!

Here they are, getting along just fine! For those of you with a high speed internet connection, here is a short 15 second video of the fish swimming around the tank!

http://thump.net/1190199/drdanke/images/cichlid1.wmv

http://thump.net/1190199/drdanke/images/yellowcichlids1.jpg

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

That flicking behavior is normal... they are scratching thier bodies. Its the only way they can scratch an itch! Its normal for them to do it once in a while, but if you notice them doing is frequently (at least once every time you view them) then its an indicator something is wrong with the water or something is bothering them.

Yellow labs are fairly peaceful and probebly wont bother your tiger barb... although they might be more aggressive in such a confined space. Judging by the photos (based on coloration) it looks like you have 1 male 1 female, although it could be a dominant/sub dominate males or females. Its reccommended to move these guys up to a larger tank when they reach 1"... so yours really should already have more space or else stunting will occur and they can become deformed. They do reach a length of over 4"... they get pretty big and can be rowdy.

Yellow labs should be fed a diet high in veggie foods, spiraluna, algae, plus a good cichlid flake food that is not too high in protien. This is going to be difficult considering the tiger barb's diet is different.

Also, the yellow labs need a different water chemistry... high pH and moderately hard water. I think the tiger barb will be okay with this water chemistry though... im not sure.

If you know the fish should have a bigger tank why did you get them? Its not really fair on the fish to cramp them in a small tank, unless its only temporary for a month or so. Its like living in a 1 room studio apartment and getting a cat... its just not fair.

:)
-Diana

[Maj0rFiSh]

Isnt a 10 Gal a bit small for these guys?

[JSchmidt]

Yes, a 10 is way to small, except if they are fry or small juveniles. Even a 30 is insufficient for fully grown labs...

Jim