one fish is a bully

[coolchinchilla]

One of my 10 cichlids is a bully. What can I do about this bully?

He has claimed three quarters of the tank for himself. He keeps
chasing the others -- herds 'em like a sheep dog so they can't
hardly turn around. Generally everyone gets to eat, but that's all.
I have lots of rock work in the tank -- should I get more or try
to create more caves to hide in?

A couple of the "sheep" fish sort of stand on their tails in the
water and stay stationary. Others just hang out behind some
floating plastic plants and don't swim hardly anywhere except to
eat. I can't tell if there is any disease but the bully keeps
patrolling the perimeter so I thought they were trying to stay out
of his way.

Did the one fish become a bully because there is so little room for
10 fish (30-gal tall tank)? If I take the bully out, will some
other fish become the bully in his place because the tank is too small?

Thanks in advance.
coolchinchilla

[Gill Passman]

"coolchinchilla" > wrote in message
...
> One of my 10 cichlids is a bully. What can I do about this bully?
>
> He has claimed three quarters of the tank for himself. He keeps
> chasing the others -- herds 'em like a sheep dog so they can't
> hardly turn around. Generally everyone gets to eat, but that's all.
> I have lots of rock work in the tank -- should I get more or try
> to create more caves to hide in?
>
> A couple of the "sheep" fish sort of stand on their tails in the
> water and stay stationary. Others just hang out behind some
> floating plastic plants and don't swim hardly anywhere except to
> eat. I can't tell if there is any disease but the bully keeps
> patrolling the perimeter so I thought they were trying to stay out
> of his way.
>
> Did the one fish become a bully because there is so little room for
> 10 fish (30-gal tall tank)? If I take the bully out, will some
> other fish become the bully in his place because the tank is too small?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> coolchinchilla

What type of fish is the bully?

Two of mine in particular seem more dominant....

Gill

[coolchinchilla]

Gill Passman wrote:
> "coolchinchilla" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>One of my 10 cichlids is a bully. What can I do about this bully?
>>
>>He has claimed three quarters of the tank for himself. He keeps
>>chasing the others -- herds 'em like a sheep dog so they can't
>>hardly turn around. Generally everyone gets to eat, but that's all.
>> I have lots of rock work in the tank -- should I get more or try
>>to create more caves to hide in?
>>
>>A couple of the "sheep" fish sort of stand on their tails in the
>>water and stay stationary. Others just hang out behind some
>>floating plastic plants and don't swim hardly anywhere except to
>>eat. I can't tell if there is any disease but the bully keeps
>>patrolling the perimeter so I thought they were trying to stay out
>>of his way.
>>
>>Did the one fish become a bully because there is so little room for
>>10 fish (30-gal tall tank)? If I take the bully out, will some
>>other fish become the bully in his place because the tank is too small?
>>
>>Thanks in advance.
>>coolchinchilla
>
>
> What type of fish is the bully?

Rats! I don't know what he is. My first goal was to get the tank
up and running. The next goal is to figure out what kinds of fish I
have.

Anyway, I think it's a lab. He is a solid peach color about 4
inches (10 cm) long

coolchinchilla

[Gill Passman]

"coolchinchilla" > wrote in message
...
> Gill Passman wrote:
> > "coolchinchilla" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>One of my 10 cichlids is a bully. What can I do about this bully?
> >>
> >>He has claimed three quarters of the tank for himself. He keeps
> >>chasing the others -- herds 'em like a sheep dog so they can't
> >>hardly turn around. Generally everyone gets to eat, but that's all.
> >> I have lots of rock work in the tank -- should I get more or try
> >>to create more caves to hide in?
> >>
> >>A couple of the "sheep" fish sort of stand on their tails in the
> >>water and stay stationary. Others just hang out behind some
> >>floating plastic plants and don't swim hardly anywhere except to
> >>eat. I can't tell if there is any disease but the bully keeps
> >>patrolling the perimeter so I thought they were trying to stay out
> >>of his way.
> >>
> >>Did the one fish become a bully because there is so little room for
> >>10 fish (30-gal tall tank)? If I take the bully out, will some
> >>other fish become the bully in his place because the tank is too small?
> >>
> >>Thanks in advance.
> >>coolchinchilla
> >
> >
> > What type of fish is the bully?
>
> Rats! I don't know what he is. My first goal was to get the tank
> up and running. The next goal is to figure out what kinds of fish I
> have.
>
> Anyway, I think it's a lab. He is a solid peach color about 4
> inches (10 cm) long
>
> coolchinchilla

Doesn't sound like a Lab....they are lemony with black dorsal fins....and in
fact some of more placid fish in my tank....

I think that I have got:-

4 Pseudotropheus Saulosi Juvs (sold to me as something else but still not
convinced)
2 Aulonocara Hybrid OB Peacocks
4 Maylandia Lombardoi
3 Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos (Electric Blue Johanni)
2 Yellow labs


The Lombardi and Melanochromis males are the bullies...and I sometimes
question the larger Pseudotropheus Saulosi if that is what they are in
fact...still debatable...

Let's try and suss out what you have in your tank and then take it from
there....

Gill

Anyway that you can post some pics so we can help with the
identification.....BTW I can only identify 50% of mine - they get miss-sold
all the time....

[Scat]

Hi

Could this be it?
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1730

Here's a list of Mbuna Cichlids (I'm assuming Mbuna. There's also
other lists at this site for Haps and Tangs etc.) with pics that you
could sift through:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=2

Then check out their library for more info.

Actually overcrowding is thought of as one way to reduce aggression.
The reason being is a fish being bullied can lose himself in the crowd.

Once you figure out the which breeds you have, try and give any males 2
to 3 females. This helps share the aggression between the females.
Build more caves, the more the better.

Sometimes reducing the amount you feed will reduce aggression. 30
second feeds four times a day.

Reducing the tank temperature slightly will also help decrease it.

Kim

[coolchinchilla]

Gill Passman wrote:
> Let's try and suss out what you have in your tank and then take it from
> there....
>
> Gill
>
> Anyway that you can post some pics so we can help with the
> identification.....BTW I can only identify 50% of mine - they get miss-sold
> all the time....

<sigh> Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera or any way to
take pics. :-( I guess I bought a used fish tank rather than a
digital camera. I'll try to look at fish in the LFS and see if I
can figure out who these guys are.

coolchinchilla

[coolchinchilla]

Scat wrote:
> Hi
>
> Could this be it?
> http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1730
>
> Here's a list of Mbuna Cichlids (I'm assuming Mbuna. There's also
> other lists at this site for Haps and Tangs etc.) with pics that you
> could sift through:
> http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=2

Unfortunately, I'm on dial-up so it takes a LONG time to load the
pics up. :-( With so many pics it takes sooooooo long to get
through. Is there any picture library where you can search on
different aspects of the fish? (For example: malawi, yellow, black
spots. It would then give thumbnails of fish that meet the three
search words.

coolchinchilla

[Gill Passman]

"coolchinchilla" > wrote in message
...
> Scat wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > Could this be it?
> > http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1730
> >
> > Here's a list of Mbuna Cichlids (I'm assuming Mbuna. There's also
> > other lists at this site for Haps and Tangs etc.) with pics that you
> > could sift through:
> > http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=2
>
> Unfortunately, I'm on dial-up so it takes a LONG time to load the
> pics up. :-( With so many pics it takes sooooooo long to get
> through. Is there any picture library where you can search on
> different aspects of the fish? (For example: malawi, yellow, black
> spots. It would then give thumbnails of fish that meet the three
> search words.
>
> coolchinchilla

Try describing them as fully as you can. Then I'm sure some of us who might
have faster links could narrow down the search.

Gill