Killer male chiclid

C

claire-louise

Registered Member
Feb 19, 2006
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Hi i really need some help i have a large blue and black zebra chiclid that will not leave a large female orange/albino alone. she has taken 2 hiding at the top of the tank near the filter as he keeps biting her fins, shes looking a bit sorry for her self iv only had them for 2 days and dont really know wats goin on to much iv got a feeling its a mating thing but its gettin quite aggresive. i also have 2 small young chiclids in the tank that are left alone one is also blue and black striped and the other is bright yellow with black markings.

please help asap. :shark:
 
What size tank are these cichlids in? It would be helpful to know what kid of cichlids you have. You may want to search through this site and others so you know what you've got in your tank! :) When buying fish you always want to have a 1 male to 3 female ratio. This will help a lot so all the stress isn't put on one particular female. She is probably the only one who is mature enough to breed so he is picking on her and not the other small cichlids you have. I would also try making some caves and such things inside your tank so she has places to hide from him where she is not visible to him. It's also a possibility that she is actually a he and is being chased out of territory, in which case you may have to move around some decor.
 
I agree with what Kayla has said, we need to know your tank size and setup, as well as what species you have (but just by your descriptions I kind of have an idea of what you have). Here's a link to a "common malawi cichlid" ID thread and have a look to see if any of these look like your fish:

http://www.malawimayhem.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3107

However it sounds like a good case of aggression, which these guys are prone to, but it shouldn't be to that extent. I would separate at least the one that is getting picked on or doing the picking. Put him in a separate tank or use a tank separator- until we can help you with what is causing the aggression so you dont loose a fish.

HTH
:)
-Diana
 
Those are some of the meanest Malawi cichlids, the one "aplha" male I had would attack ANYTHING when they were spawning which was once a week. :rolleyes: When he killed a pleco and harrased a knife fish I knew I was getting out of the aggressive cichlids for good. I also had a red cheek that was second only to that zebra, if a female was weak from spawning it would harrass her until she was stressed or I was able to catch her and move her into a hospital tank.
 
hi ta 4 helpin me its a hexagon 5.7 gallon tank thts got a large fake root and plants that means there lot of places 2 hide but the large male does take it over im quite sure he is a pseudotropheus blue n black zebra. and she must be an albino as she is not orange anough 2 be a red zebra. she tends to just try to get away from him all the time and wont come down unless food is around. the large male also chases the smaller fish (a young pseuddotropheus and a yellow morph.) but is not agressive. hope this helps you help me.
 
Uh-oh... better run and hide! :D
 
Please say you meant it was a 57 gallon hex. Those fish need space to set up territories, breath, eat etc. A hex makes it worse because of the relatively small "footprint". Depending on the number of fish you should have 30 gallons or preferably more.
 
Yeah I'm also hoping its a 57 gallon hex! :p:

The BARE MINIMUM tank size for these fish is a 30 gallon, and thats only for the smallest and mildest of the mbuna, and even then it should be upgraded. I would say a standard 55 gallon is needed to properly house these fish. If the tank is a hex, even larger is need, I would say upwards of 70 gallons.

In anything smaller, eventually they will all be killed off by the one dominant fish.

-Diana
 
oh dear!!!

the shop neva told me that! i feel well guilty!! wat do you suggest i do????? and yes it is a 5.7 us gallon tank i guess im the killer then! lol :duh:
 
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