Rainbow Cichlid Aggression Question

Jayhawk

Jayhawk

AC Members
May 12, 2001
1,358
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Lawrence, KS
Wanting a change from Tanganyikans, and wanting to take advantage of my higher pH (7.8), I decided to pick up two Rainbow cichlids for my 20 gallon long tank yesterday. I'd read they were peaceful for CAs, the LFS tried to help me pick a m/f pair, but one of the two has been on a non-stop chase mission since last night. The chaser is the drabber fish, the chasee is what I thought was the male (brighter colored, larger). I've got about 5 cave areas and multiple sight breaks in the tanks, but it's not helping. Oh yeah, they're only about 2" now.

Could this be normal new fish in tank behavior? Should I leave them to work this out for a couple more days, or should I be returning one or both fish for a smaller higher pH accepting fish like the Bolivian Ram or Keyhole cichlid?

Thanks,

Eric
 
Well, the aggressive rainbow went ballistic last night. I went to another LFS, and they recommended putting in a pair of small convicts as target fish. So, the mean rainbow beat up on the convicts then REALLY went after the other rainbow. I ended up dropping off both rainbows at the LFS for them to add to a larger (60 gallon) plant tank they have that also had a pair of rainbow cichlids in it.

Luckily, the LFS did pick out a M/F pair of rather small convicts (1.5" male, about a 3/4" female who was already show her colors). They are unbelievably cool little fish. I haven't had convicts since I was about 15. 20 years later and they're a lot cooler than I remembered them being.

These two fish get along great. Their was a little chasing at first, but mostly they swim around together. I have noticed every once in a while one of the two will get a little grumpy with the other (this aggression goes both ways), they'll chase pretty hard for about a minute, then they're back swimming around together.

After tangs for the past year or two, paradise fish for about 5 years before that, these fish have the most personality of any fish since my all time favorite fish, my old Texas cichlid passed away. Even my wife is enchanted by the convicts, and she is notoriously not a fish person.

It's funny how things can work out when at first it seems hopeless!
 
I am glad everything worked out for you. It seems really odd that a rainbow would show that much aggression mine never showed an ounce, but I guess that different fish have different personalities.
Convicts are not really target fish so I am not quite sure why your LFS would recommend them. If the rainbow had setteled down the convicts would have ended up killing them (thats how I lost mine) and target fish are usually just that, targets. Normally a target fish would be something like a giant danio or even a tiger barb might have worked in that scenario. But it all worked out in the end so thats great.
........Get ready for some babies.;)
 
Well, you've got a point about normal target fish - I think they meant simply it would spread the aggression a bit. I knew when I brought the convicts home that if they cons paired up the rainbows would have to go, but I was also thinking the introduction of another species might lead the rainbows to pair up --- either way I was hoping for a pair of smaller CAs for the tank.

I honestly wonder if fish can be a bit psycho sometimes. So many people I know and trust have had good experiences with rainbow cichlids, but that one was just truly nasty.

Like you said, alls well that ends well!
 
I think the twenty long is a great tank, definately my favorite for smaller cichlids. I think you will be okay with the two fish in there but might want to think about a larger tank for the long run. If that is not possible you will want some "disposable" target fish for when they breed otherwise the only place the male will have to turn his agression is on the female or the fry. Or you could just name the male Axel Rose.
 
I rather like 20 longs myself since so few cichlids like tall tanks, and I tend to prefer smaller cichlids. These convicts will be my biggest fish since the Texas (when I had a much larger tank). I have 3 endler's live bearers in there with them now (have had them all along) which they chase periodically. They're probably more ditherish since they have no target ability (one hit and they're gone), but they are something for the covicts to focus on. Whenever they disappear, I'll probably drop in a pair or trio of Variatus platys as targets. I've found them to be very hardy, they're CAs also, and I've used them in the past for Curviceps, N. anomalas and my paradise fish couple.

So convicts can get nippy with each other at breeding time? I didn't know that. I have no plans to sell fry, so I don't mind if they eat the fry eventually. If by chance, one or two grow up, they'll be lucky.

Thanks for all the advice!
 
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