cacatoides not going well...

[Kris]

I need opinions on this;
I moved 4 apistogramma cacatoides (2 males,2 females) to my community
thank of 55G.
First week they went fine, exept of one male that got bitten in the
tail. Since yesterday, that male is hanging just next of the filter or
close to the window, sometimes laying a bit to his side. His fins
close to the body... Today he didn't eat. Also the two females hide
themselves and don't come out for food. The other male, still healthy
and eating is a terror to them, chasing both females and male. It 's
like playing hide and seek.

The others, angelfish, tiger oscar, sherrbarbs and puffer are fine,
eating good etc...

water seems good temp 27°C, KH 4°DH, NO2- 0,05, NO3- 15, pH 7.
Seems good, I changed the water 20¨% today, added aquaqafe and
aquatan, and a bit torumin.

What can be the cause? Is stress killing them? What can I do? they
have lots off shelters but the dominant male always finds them and
starts a chase.

Or can there be an other cause? I glued the fluorescent lamp
electronics with silicone two-three weeks ago. It was aquarium safe
though and I waited two days before laying it on the tank. The others
are well...

What can I do?

[Keith J.]

I hope you are kidding , right ?
Otherwise you need to make some major changes quick.

The Oscar will grow to over 10 inches ( 25 cm), and will eventually kill
nearly everything else in the tank. Some hardy catfish and a few large
species of cichlids can survive with Oscars, but your angels, apistos ,
tetras , and probably even the puffer will eventually be killed or eaten.

Most species of puffer live in sal****er or brackish water, and your other
fish won't do well with much salt in the water. I would check the
recommended salinity for your puffer. Some do ok in fresh water, but not
many.

I'd recommend you move the oscar and puffer, and provide extra hiding places
for the less dominant apistos. Soon.

Your mileage may vary, but I doubt it in this case ;
Keith J.

"Kris" > wrote in message
om...
> I need opinions on this;
> I moved 4 apistogramma cacatoides (2 males,2 females) to my community
> thank of 55G.
> First week they went fine, exept of one male that got bitten in the
> tail. Since yesterday, that male is hanging just next of the filter or
> close to the window, sometimes laying a bit to his side. His fins
> close to the body... Today he didn't eat. Also the two females hide
> themselves and don't come out for food. The other male, still healthy
> and eating is a terror to them, chasing both females and male. It 's
> like playing hide and seek.
>
> The others, angelfish, tiger oscar, sherrbarbs and puffer are fine,
> eating good etc...

[Kris]

"Keith J." > wrote in message >...
> I hope you are kidding , right ?
> Otherwise you need to make some major changes quick.
>
> The Oscar will grow to over 10 inches ( 25 cm), and will eventually kill
> nearly everything else in the tank. Some hardy catfish and a few large
> species of cichlids can survive with Oscars, but your angels, apistos ,
> tetras , and probably even the puffer will eventually be killed or eaten.
>
I know. I have a bigger tank for him

> Most species of puffer live in sal****er or brackish water, and your other
> fish won't do well with much salt in the water. I would check the
> recommended salinity for your puffer. Some do ok in fresh water, but not
> many.
>
my puffer is a freshwater puffer. It is not the salt water tetraodon
fulviatilis.

> I'd recommend you move the oscar and puffer, and provide extra hiding places
> for the less dominant apistos. Soon.
>
The weakened male died shortly after writing my question. The three
others are living a happy life now...


> Your mileage may vary, but I doubt it in this case ;
> Keith J.
>
> "Kris" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I need opinions on this;
> > I moved 4 apistogramma cacatoides (2 males,2 females) to my community
> > thank of 55G.
> > First week they went fine, exept of one male that got bitten in the
> > tail. Since yesterday, that male is hanging just next of the filter or
> > close to the window, sometimes laying a bit to his side. His fins
> > close to the body... Today he didn't eat. Also the two females hide
> > themselves and don't come out for food. The other male, still healthy
> > and eating is a terror to them, chasing both females and male. It 's
> > like playing hide and seek.
> >
> > The others, angelfish, tiger oscar, sherrbarbs and puffer are fine,
> > eating good etc...