Curbing Dwarf Cichlid Aggression

[Lansirill]

After being reminded of the existence of dwarf cichlids as a way to add a bit of color to my tank, I got all excited about having some of these swimming around with my cories. However after a bit of reading it sounds like I have about a 50/50 chance of them getting along with my cories.

What can I do to curb the aggression? My tank has plenty of rocks, wood, and plants in it, although it's light on caves, so things should be fairly broken up. However the cories probably won't learn about territories, so I don't know how much that will help.

About the only thing I've come across that would work would be to keep only a single fish. There won't be any male-on-male violence that way, and there won't be any breeding going on so the cichlid shouldn't be too bothered by visitors. Should this work? Would I simply end up with a depressed fish?

 

[Star_Rider]

which dwarf cichlids are you referring to?

some are fine with a larger fotprint in the tank and structure so they can establish thier territories.

 

[silentskream]

lots of hidey spots.

which variety of dwarf cichlids? that may make a difference too.

 

[Lansirill]

The species is negotiable. I've been looking at cockatoos or possibly a Bolivian ram. I'm perfectly open to something else if it'll be better behaved as long as it still stays reasonably hardy and can handle a pH on the high end (around 7.4-7.6.)

 

[silentskream]

a ram can't handle that high of a PH and a cockatoo would be pushing it.

but with either of those, the best advice is to provide a lot of places to hide.. and only keep a few. (like maybe 4)

also, have as big a school of corys as you can.. that takes some of the stress off each individual cory.

 

[IndianaSam]

a ram can't handle that high of a PH and a cockatoo would be pushing it

A bolivian Ram will be quite happy at that pH. Cacatuoides can also handle that with no problem. Neither is a blackwater species.

In my opinion that best luck will be with the bolivian Rams. I think that they're less territorial than cacatuiodes.

Sam

 

[silentskream]

sorry, i got that backwards.

but even still, i thought 7.5 was on the high end of the ram's range?

and that 7 was on the high end of the cockatoo?

 

[IndianaSam]

sorry, i got that backwards.

but even still, i thought 7.5 was on the high end of the ram's range?

and that 7 was on the high end of the cockatoo?

Click here for a discussion of cacatuoides pH range.

And here for a discussion of the Bolivian Ram pH range.

In both pages, the pH of the river in which each species is collected is listed as 7.6, so I think they'll be fine.

Sam

 

[silentskream]

oh.. i was going off of the info from liveaquaria.com.

my bad.. they're usually more accurate about that kind of thing.

 

[Lansirill]

Well, I'm glad to hear that the two species I'm looking at can handle the pH in my tank. I'm still wondering about how peaceful they'll be.

While I'm asking about them... how hard are they to find, and about how much do they cost?