Dominent african chiclid male problem

[blitzcat]

We have a dominent male, not sure of what he is, we've been told a few things pic below...he was light blue with dark blue stripes but now turned yellow being the dominent.

We've just bought a breeding pair to try and bring him down a peg or two they are both bigger than him. However he still seems to be agressive. We have lost 4 of our malawi chiclids due to his aggression as all our perameters in the water are ok.

Does anyone know what else we can do other than give him to the LFS? He as one female left and their baby fry which is luckily surviving without being eaten. We have also tried moving territories around and giving enough coverage for the female to hide but he still comes and bothers her.

IN one last ditch effort we put him in the bag our new chiclids came in (obviously with water in) and let him stew while the others swam happily around. As soon as he was released he started pestering again and now the others just hide. (the bag was a tip by the LFS owner - felt it cruel but we were trying everything).

Please help.
Cheers
Blitzcat

 

[kay-bee]

That's a male kenyi (metriaclima lombardoi), a mbuna species known for its extreme aggression potential.

What size tank do you have and how many mbuna's are in it?

Without removing this male kenyi, you could

-add more mbuna's to the tank to spread out its aggression, or

-add more rocks and decorations to provide cover and break lines of sight, or

- add several (3 to 5) female kenyi to provide a distraction, or

-add several more mbuna's of similar or greater aggression to act as rivals(certain melanochromis species, m. auratus, m. chipokae, etc, probably not a good idea as it would raise the aggression in the tank a few notches and might make matters worse, but the kenyi might get placed in a sub-dominant role).

I recommend trying the first three options concurrently.

Keep in mind, your kenyi is far from full grown (it'll get upwards of six inches), and as it grows so will its belligerent nature.

 

[blitzcat]

Hi ya,

And thanx for your reply...all makes perfect sense. Our tank is only a 30gallon one, altho we are going to be getting a bigger one. We got him as a baby and I was reading up on the species and really we shouldn't be keeping him in less than a 75 gallon tank.

We only have 1 female Kenyi, one of her offspring and him up until yesterday when we got the breeding pair.

I think for all fairness to him and the others we will take him back to the LFS. Which is a shame as we've had him for over a year and he's getting quite a size and stunning to watch.

Until we can get the bigger tank then I think it's the right thing to do. Also I do believe that our LFS need to inform customers of what they are purchasing. Many new chiclid fish owners (like myself at the time) would think oh he's pretty and not realise how aggressive he is.

 

[terror spawnin]

Lake malawi cichlids are in thick numbers naturally. And not schooling numbers.
They pick on each other until the numbers around them are high enough to the point of confusion. Then they are peaceful.
I have witnessed live footage of their natural habitat and there is no fighting.
It is like looking into an overpopulated lfs tank. And all the fish swimming around together are different.

Add more of the same lake cichlids and enjoy the diversity with the bonus of your fish mellowing out! "kay-bee" is on the right track with this subject.

 

[kay-bee]

Our tank is only a 30gallon...

Small tanks (< 55gal) and have a way of amplifying aggression as does maintaining mbuna's in small
quantity (makes it easier for specific fish to be targeted and possibly eliminated). A kenyi is definately
ill-suited for a 30gal, it would be highly capable and motivated to kill any other cichlid in with it. Kenyi
can 'play rough' in much larger tanks (125gal, etc).

...I was reading up on the species and really we shouldn't be keeping him in
less than a 75 gallon tank.

Agreed, 55gal is the general cited minimum tank for most mbuna's, and 75gal+ is recommended for
housing the hyperdominant species

We only have 1 female Kenyi, one of her offspring and him up until yesterday
when we got the breeding pair.

Kenyi and other mbuna's (which I am assuming that your 'breeding pair' are) are 'harem' or
'polygamous breeders' and are best suited one male per several females per species. A 'breeding pair'
of mbuna's exists only from the quantitive stand point.

I think for all fairness to him and the others we will take him back to the
LFS....Until we can get the bigger tank then I think it's the right thing to do...

If the other pair are actually mbuna's they will most likely require a larger tank too (the kenyi's
absence will create a alpha fish 'vacancy' which will be filled). Fortunately, not all alpha
fish are belligerent.