wraith Posted August 4, 2013 Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 Hi all, I set up a 4 x 2 x 2 tank at my school last year. Everything's been going quite well, but the last few months I've some serious aggression issues. Three of the Pindani I had in there were killed by a very aggressive Albino Eureka red male. I removed him from the tank and things settled. Now unfortunately, the female Eureka Reds I have in the tank are all showing severe fin damage. They show aggression to each other as well as being targeted by the last albino female I have the tank (soon to be relocated). I only have three Eureka females and one pure Eureka male. Other tank mates are 6x Black Acei (from butch on these forums. One is ready to spawn.) 4 x Electric Yellows (I think 2 male and 2 female but I haven't sexed them yet) 2 x remaining Pindani from a batch of 5 1 x Chinese algae eater (recently bought to control alage on back of tank) So, I'm wondering if I need to throw a few more females of the Eureka's in the tank to spread the aggression. Currently one is in my little iso cube so she can rest and recover. That only leaves two in the main tank and today I noticed serious tail fin damage to both of them. If I throw in another three females, will that help? The other option is to scrap the Eureka's completely and go for something else in the tank. I stocked it based roughly off a guide from the Cichlid Forum site (American site, really helpful. I discovered it before I found out about this place). I could swap the Red's for another colony of Aulanocaras. Apparently the Eurekas are fairly aggressive for their type. I know Butch is selling breeding colonies of other Aulanocaras and I could happily purchase from him again, since his fish are quality. The only problem with that option is I don't have anywhere to put the Eureka's if I do that. No room in my home tanks and none in either my brothers or brother in laws tanks. Any advice welcome. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goneself Posted August 4, 2013 Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 I have no advice for your cichlids, except it looks to be lightly stocked..more fish=less aggression seems to be the way to go. anyway, others way more qualified than me will be along..but just for a bit more bad news, the chinese algae eater will probably ignore your algae all together, and focus on being a massive slime coat eating jerk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraith Posted August 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 I have no advice for your cichlids, except it looks to be lightly stocked..more fish=less aggression seems to be the way to go. anyway, others way more qualified than me will be along..but just for a bit more bad news, the chinese algae eater will probably ignore your algae all together, and focus on being a massive slime coat eating jerk. I hope not. I got him on advice from a shop who've never steered me wrong so far. I have lots of brown algae at the moment. He's been in tank for two days and hasn't left the back of the tank. Busy munching. I have heard that when they get bigger they start to ease off on algae eating. Guess I'll just get a small one again if that happens. Cheers PS. Yeah, I think understocking might be the issue too. I plan on getting another batch of those Pindani's from butch and maybe some more yellows. 4 x 2 x 2 is a lot of water, but I wasn't sure about the foot print space to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETFISH Posted August 4, 2013 Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 yeah definately under stocked, 30 in there would be my advise, eureka are fairly agro so dont get more of them, and the a/eater will become a leech when bigger ,just get rid of it for a smaller one if you notice it harrasing any other fishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daydream Posted August 4, 2013 Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 Ok my advise is scrap keeping girls altogether.Display tanks of Africans tend to have less argo when only males are keeped in them.apart from the agro being less it will look better to.Put in lots of cover 15-20 boys some cookoo cats and one nice display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETFISH Posted August 4, 2013 Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 yeah ,will agree with daydream ,better of with only males. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted August 4, 2013 Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 Yep remove the females and add 10 nice assorted male peacocks. mission accomplished! Also I love CAE in african setups Pretty much the perfect algae eaters....... except when they get eaten lol and even then.... they are a pretty cheap feeder fish as far as algae eaters go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraith Posted August 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 Thanks for the replies fellas. The only issue with all males tanks is that we were setting it up so some breeding could occur. It is a biology classroom, and the breeding patterns and behaviours of these fish are amazing to be honest. I can happily get rid of the Eurekas. I'll just stock more of the Mbunas. Electric yellows, blue Pindani and black acei still make for a very pretty tank and they will breed. Now to scrounge together the cash to get some. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butch50 Posted August 4, 2013 Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 Hi Mate You could put some breeders in there and a pleco and I agree with goneself Get rid of the algae eater as he will bump your fish off by sucking the slime coat off and they die Cheers Butch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraith Posted August 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 Cheers again for the feedback all. Looks like my new algae eater is bound for a short stay <sigh> Butch, I'll give you a call when I get the cash together and organise some more groups from you. Next three weeks or so would be my guess, but will call when definite. I'll bring some pictures of the Acei you sold me too. The big male in my school tank is absolutely stunning when his purple shows through. I appreciate the feedback from everyone on these boards. Africans are the most exciting fish I've ever kept, but getting the tank right has taken some learning. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraith Posted August 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2013 Double posted sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted August 5, 2013 Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 If you were closer I would happily take the CAE. I have never had a problem with them in with africans. Goldfish or discus would be another story. But they just dont have the turning circle to become a problem with most Africans. They are particuarly suited to auratus tanks. As they mess with their minds XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
th3f0rg0t3n Posted August 5, 2013 Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 does the same be said about the siamese flying fox when they hit full grown size? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny@ageofaquariums Posted August 5, 2013 Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 Unless you are hair algae, you got nothing to fear from true siamese flying foxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
