Expert: Ron Coleman - 11/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: I purchased a OB peacock today. My mbunas have been beating him up all day. I changed the tank around. I put all the rocks on one side and left a lot of open area for the OB on the other but they still won't leave it alone. It just hides at the top of the tank behind the filter. My tank by the way is a 55 gallon. Does the OB take on its milder Peacock behavior even though it's half mbuna? Should I take it back? Also I have a black convict in the tank that was accepted with open arms. The mbunas never bother him. I was thinking of trading the OB for a couple more would this not be a wise idea? My mbunas by the way are all fairly large adults. My Bumblebee is at least 8 inches the others are 4 to 6 inches. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated are local fish store only has juvenile mbunas which would just be lunch for my adults.

ANSWER: Hi Doug,
  The convict was likely left alone because it is so different -- it doesn't register with the mbuna as being a competitor, whereas the OB peacock does.  I doubt if you will be able to add any other mbuna or peacocks to that tank without some serious fighting resulting.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So if not mbuna would you recommend maybe something in there size range like a firemouth or texas cichlid? Thanks again for your feedback.

Doug

ANSWER: Hi Doug,
 I think you are really asking for trouble if you start putting more Central American cichlids in there. An adult texas cichlid would probably eliminate your mbuna pretty quickly.  I generally like to only put fish together that come from the same region in the wild.  You were lucky with the convict, but I wouldn't push your luck.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I've discovered the reason for the aggression in my tank. My Socolofi is the cause of all the uneasiness. I took him out of the tank for two hours and during that period of time there was zero fighting. It's so hard for me to part with this fish because he is a very beautiful fish. Do you think there is a way to lower his aggression by say adding more females to the mix. Should I trade him in and if I do what would you recommend? Besides the Socolofi my tank consist of a male Bumblebee, male OB Peacock, female Red Zebra, female Yellow Lab, Syndontis and a Pleco.

Doug

Answer
Hi Doug,
 If you put females in there, his aggression is only going to INCREASE.  Now he will really have something to fight for.  You might consider adding a LOT more structure (rocks) to the tank to help reduce aggression.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>