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About Ron Coleman
Expertise
I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish). Please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. I keep fishes both as a scientist and as a hobbyist and I currently maintain about 140 aquariums.

Experience
I am an Assistant Professor at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.

Publications
Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes

Education/Credentials
PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Fish > Fish > Mbuna/ Peacock

Fish - Mbuna/ Peacock

Expert: Ron Coleman - 11/1/2009

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>

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