convict troubles

[Tom_Hung]

So the convict I just got is tearing my FM's tail to pieces. I'm wondering if i should go pick up a few danios to give him something else to chase around or if I should just let them figure it out on their own. Right now I have a huge plant that divides the tank and they stay on their own sides for the most part but whenever the firemouth goes to the other side he gets chased away and his tail usually comes away a bit more ragged. Let me know what you guys think, thanks

 

[Tom_Hung]

:scratch:

 

[ScottoMacD]

Convict

Do you have any caves in the tank? You may need some or more so as to allow everyone to stake their claim.

One thing that you can try that I have had some success with. Is to rebag the con and do a ornament rearrangement and a water change. Wait a couple of hours for the firemouth to claim his spot.

After that you can refloat the bagged con and re-intoduce it to the tank. All territories will then go back to zero. It will give the weaker fish in the tank a chance to establish themselves before the con comes in.

It has worked a few times for me. It also however has not worked other times. It all depends on the fish's personalities. If the con is an sob then it won't matter either way.

 

[Tom_Hung]

I have lots of cover for the FM and now he seems to be claiming the oppossite side of the big plant from the con and everything is working out. He even chased the con out of his side a few times today. I plan on getting a clay pot for both sides when i get arround to it. Also I plan on getting rid of the JD and am wondering if I should just leave it as it is, or try to find another small cichlid to go with the pike, convict and FM?

 

[ScottoMacD]

Tank

I have done the controlled aggression with overcrowding before.

It for the most part doesn't work all that well. It usually starts off fine then ends up getting messy.

You may want to leave it for a while and see how it goes. But be prepared to remove any troublemakers at the signs of trouble.