View Full Version : How to avoid Cichlids devour each other?
KO Lo
07-01-2006, 12:03 AM
I have a 10g tank with various type of cichilds, total 6.
but they always chasing and devour each other, one by one dies ... :argue:
why is this happening :huh:
wobble
07-01-2006, 12:05 AM
My first guess would be too small of a tank.
What kind of cichlids?
KO Lo
07-01-2006, 12:20 AM
My first guess would be too small of a tank.
What kind of cichlids?
Blue Cobalt Cichlid
Electric Yellow Labido
Auratus
Chisumulu Johanni
wobble
07-01-2006, 12:27 AM
What you have are African mbuna cichlids from Lake Malawi. They require alot of space. They are extremely aggressive (as you've found out).
IMO 55g minimum for yellow lab and blue cobalt zebra. 75g minimum for auratus and johanni. The auratus is one of the most aggressive cichlids out there. He needs a MUCH larger environment. Even in a 75g, they can be a handful (I have one in mine).
Unfortunately, none will survive in a 10g.
kay-bee
07-01-2006, 8:00 AM
Yes, a 10-gal is unsuitable for the type of cichlids you have. The only mbuna I keep in 10-gal are fry and juveniles under 1.5". Small tanks greatly enhance aggression. (and by mbuna standards a small tank is something like a 29-gal tank).
Recommendation: get a larger tank or exchange the fish you have for a genre of fish suited for a 10-gal.
If kept in current conditions one of your melanochromis will (or continuously attempt to) kill everything in the tank. All will make it rough for any new fish you add into that tank.
stingray4540
07-01-2006, 8:55 AM
as already stated, your tank is too small, and you have two of the most aggressive mbuna out there, the auratus and johanni. If you want to do cichlids in a 10g, look into dwarf cichlids. the apisto species are really great especially the cackatoos. Or look into some lake tang. shell dwellers.
~*LuvMyKribs*~
07-01-2006, 12:48 PM
I agree... please return these fish to your pet store as soon as possible or upgrade to at LEAST a 55 gallon tank right away, before any more of the fish needlessly die. A 10 gallon tank is even too small for 1 Malawi cichlid.
;)
-Diana
BlackCougar
07-02-2006, 7:11 AM
I agree with everyone here, ten gallon is way too small for the amount of cichilds you have in there. You need to upgrade to a 55 gallon or bigger