View Full Version : Lonely, Aggresive Female
:( We have a red zebra cich. (for longest time thought she was a male golden until I researched), we have had her for four years and she is about 8 cm long.
Like most, she is aggressive, but her attitude borders on psychotic... seriously. She will kill anything in the tank, even larger cichlids, snails, med. sized plecos. She tries attacking the cats, the kids, the hubby through the glass when they walk by. She used to be a very quiet hen-pecked fish, until last year and our albino cich. died under mysterious circumstances - we are convinced it was a "burning bed" thing.
Anyhow... she is laying eggs now. :huh: Last week she laid her second clutch (is that what they are called) in the past 4 months. She keeps them in her mouth until she is so hungry she either spits them out or swallows them.
Any ideas? She is really aggressive - anything entering the tank, other than my hand, is simply sick entertainment for her. There have been no fish in the tank for 6 months.
thanks
S.A.
liv2padl
12-17-2005, 12:30 PM
what size is the tank? do you have ALOT of rocks and caves in the tank?
As this is the hubbies tank I have left it be for the most part- I have plecos and ottos and don't deal with the cich. except to feed and clean her. But went on line and researched my little heart out.
I think you are right, she is going to need more size and hidey holes. She is in a 5 gall. with a sponge gravel filter, the same one she has been in for 4 years. So... we are going to upgrade to a 20 gall. with hood/bio filter and rock/caves and similar substrat. We have small gravel with mixed flat marbles (she likes to throw them- go figure). But before we move her I am going to try to locate a similar sized red zeb. male. This is going to be really difficult as we live in rural WA state and it is too cold to ship any fish safely. I could make a 150 mi. trip for a male - but no guarantee he will survive the trip back (hubby lost several red bellies last time).
My understanding is that if I transfer her on her own, she will be just as territorial and aggressive. However if I transfer her and other red zeb's into the tank they will not have an established pecking order and will figure it out and be less likely to fight.
Does this sound right to you?
Black_Moor
12-17-2005, 6:07 PM
I could make a 150 mi. trip for a male - but no guarentee he will survive the trip back
I know there are some things people make to transport fish safely, as for me walking on foot I have a Insulated bag that is big enough to put a few bagged fish in for my bus trip / walk home.
150 miles though, possibly try a Styrofoam cooler, like the ones you would use on a picnic.. I believe they're under $10 .. and buy a battery powered airpump .. some hose and a airstone.. when in the car with the heat on I can imagine it should make it fine, and the dark container will help with fish to not stress so badly, during the travel time.
Anyone else got idea's? .. Mines probably not the best but it's a cheap sollution for those of us on a hobby budget.
I can try that. Sounds as good as any. We put them in a Gatarade Drink Cooler when changing their tanks and acclamating. I don't see why that wouldn't work.
Thank you
~*LuvMyKribs*~
12-17-2005, 9:25 PM
OMG a 5 gallon tank? :( I cant imagine how stunted she is :( :sad: Do you realize these fish can get to at least 4 inchs?
No wonder she is unhappy and attatcks everything. She should also have sand substrate and plenty of rockwork since these are rock-dwelling fish.
You should get her at least a 55 gallon tank, especially if you want to add males and more females.
In a 20 gallon, the male will likely beat up any females because of the small tank size. You should have at least 2-3 females per male, so for 4 fish your absolute min tank size will be 35 gallons, but because red zebras can be aggressive I would say your gonna need a 55 gallon.
If you cant afford the larger tank, get her the 20 gallon "long" and she will have to be in the only fish in the tank.
-Diana
liv2padl
12-18-2005, 7:37 AM
sometimes, i just can't believe what i read here. maybe i'm just getting cranky!
Black_Moor
12-18-2005, 10:54 AM
They are upgrading to a 20G, they're making the effort. I see it all as a learning process and by Upgrading it's a good start to proper care.
~*LuvMyKribs*~
12-18-2005, 12:40 PM
20 gallons wont cut it for these fish..... maybe for the one female, simply because she has been living in such small conditions her whole life, 20 gallons will be an upgrade. I cant believe it took you 4 years though. :(
20 gallons wont cut it for these fish..... maybe for the one female, simply because she has been living in such small conditions her whole life, 20 gallons will be an upgrade. I cant believe it took you 4 years though. :(
A little clarification... she has been here four years, I haven't. Now that I am she is going into a bigger tank. Thank you all for the info. I will continue the research on another site.
~*LuvMyKribs*~
12-20-2005, 12:04 AM
Oh I realize that.... I guess I read "we've had her for 4 years"... I thought it was both of you but it was just your hubby?
It doesnt really matter in either case... as long as your getting her the upgrade thats all that matters. :)
Try looking at http://www.malawimayhem.com. There you should find plenty of info on malawi cichlids (which is what she is).
Just remember... no males with her unless its a larger tank. If you think she's aggressive... watch out! ;)
:)
-Diana
BrianAW
12-20-2005, 1:01 AM
i dont know if your reading this but i have some imput that might come in handy.
i have 4 ice-blue zebras in a 37g tank but thier not alone, their with a 7in pleco, a jack dempsy 2in, and 2 black cons.
they arent mating but im not complaining i have minimal room now that i have breeding mollies. they dont fight each other but they do fight thier tank mates. so a 35g with four should be fine, now i dont have the red zebras but their in the same family so the same priciples might apply.
as for transport, i live in north carolina so i cant really under stand the hardships year round but in the winter if i need to buy feeder fish or sumthing iget a nice big tobagan or scarf and wrap it around the bag for the 50ft walk back to my car. but my uncle lives in PA and he does the same thing so it might work....as for 150 miles, more power to ya it just shows your dedicated to her well being..
best of luck.