How to Successfully Keep Aggressive Community Tanks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2017
- - Check out my Red Texas & Hybrid Facebook group at: / 1865390493780962
Tips & Tricks from my 17 years of fishkeeping on keeping aggressive cichlids together in a community.
In this growout tank I have:
- Flowerhorns
- Red texas
- Green Texas
- Festae
- Jaguar pair
- Mammons
- Bichers and more.
![[UNCUT] ฝันรักห้วงนิทรา | EP.9 (3/4)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ikd1tEhXbp8/mqdefault.jpg)
Good advice. Been keeping American cichlids for almost 40 years. here's some of my tricks.
1. Keep many fish
2. Make sure you have a fish that can boss another fish to keep balance, never allow one fish to become the absolute king
3. Grow them up together from young and when you introduce new fish, introduce more than one
4. add some non cichlids to the tank like catfish, clown loach, community sharks etc that can survive with them but calm the cichlid aggression. The cichlids will be less aggressive if there are some non-aggressive fish they can mimic
5. Don't feed them live fish ever so they don't create a cabalistic mindset
6. Build caves or hiding areas only big enough for the smaller fish that are having a hard time. It will give them a place of refuge and they will become territorial over the space and gain confidence.
7. Keep the water clean so they stay healthy and they will only really look forward to feeding time
Give them long periods without the light on in the evening so they actually sleep, rest and relive stress
8. I keep my water temperature at 79 degrees, I have found it to be the sweet spot but, lot of the more aggressive cichlids get more aggressive at the higher temperatures.
9. Always buy the smaller specimens of the really aggressive cichlids so they have a hard time becoming king of the tank. If a king emerges and becomes too much, either remove him or get another fish that won't be scared of it but won't also become it in temperament.
10. Get to know your fish and what they tend to fight over, then you can remove or adjust those things so they have less to fight about.
Solid tips ty ty more advice like this needed in this hobby
Great tips, I literally just said the same thing except yours had more tips that I forgot to mention, so this is perfect advice thank you!
Dude, you are one of the most knowledgeable aquarist on TH-cam!!!!!!!!
Excellent! Watching changes in tank hierarchy and fish behavior in general is for me one of the more enjoyable aspects of fishkeeping. The tank is never quite "perfect" is it? Lol! I have learned so much from this hobby ... biology, chemistry, ecology, etc., and in return it has taught me respect, patience, and humility. Subscribed!👍
this is spoken by a dude who knows stuff. Great video
I have a 125 gal cichlid tank. I wish I could add pics to show my set up. I know prob no one will believe it, but I also have super aggressive and semi aggressive cichlids all living together. One, for example is a flowerhorn and you'd never know that they should NOT be housed with other fish. My flowerhorn is super friendly and passive. I'm not a 100% why it works out for me but my tank is very peaceful and they all get along perfectly fine. I just make sure that the tank is overstocked with tons of obstacles as you stated, as well as enough hiding spots. I always give plenty of food for all, so that way none of them are grouchy from not having their fair share of food. I have also added what is considered dither fish " around 6 Rosy Barbs" they are middle swimming fish and always school together. This helps distract the aggressive cichlids for some reason. I also I have 6 cory cats which swim the bottom of the tank. They also help. None of the cichlids bother them. The fish all breed successfully and none of the babies are eaten ...to my knowledge anyway lol. Also if I ever add more cichlids, I never add only one new guy... it's always at least 3 or 4 newbies at a time. That helps to distract them from new fish being added. They don't realize who's new this way, or they can't just single out one, which helps the fish if it does get bullied to get away and relax. Instead of just one single fish getting bullied to death. I also have had all of the super aggressive guys raised in the tank since they were very tiny babies, practically fry. So they are all used to living in their community aquarium. This is just what worked for me so far! Now I say so far because hey you never know with these aggressive guys, one day they might just snap and what has worked in the past, won't work later especially with my flowerhorn. Honestly I'm amazed at how well behaved it is. The flowerhorn is actually one of my friendliest cichlids. What are the odds of that lol! The flowerhorn even enjoys being hand fed and pet. All I can say is if you plan to try this scenario be sure you have a back up tank because 9x out if 10 you can not house flowerhorns with any other fish but it is possible. And for sure DO NOT TRY TO ADD AN ADULT, only babies 2 inches and under. Good luck everyone!
Also I love you video thanks for uploading it and proving that it can be done! Also sorry for the long comment lol
people need to listen to this!!! very helpful.
Nice tank, I really like the layout.
Thanks for the tips!! Currently have a Blue Texas, Pearl and Rhino Pleco in my 75g. We have a seperate tank with a beat up Jack Dempsey from someone else's tank. We had to put up a screen to seperate the pearl and Texas for now. Hopefully going to pick up a couple more fish, change the landscaping and turn the lights off when reintroducing them to try and help with the aggression . The Texas is trying her hardest to pick on the pearl but the pearl stands her ground and is a little bigger. The pearl only becomes aggressive when the Texas begins to attack. Fingers crossed this works!
Great video buddy and great advice!
Love your Work buddy
Great info, thanks for sharing
You earned a subscribe here man. I have been looking for something like this. I have almost the exact same setup regarding fish, including a bichir and the green/blue texas (those guys are mean). I will definitely adopt some of your ideas. Thanks!
Glad it helped brother.
Totally agree man ..just got into hobby.. more fish happy fish . Less aggressive no territory
i think its funny that you put your fish in solitary confinement
Ycy
I'm guilty of it hahaha
This is really good video. Can you give your toughs on 180 gal tank with stock up with 5 Green terrors and 5 Flowerhorn / Red Texas. The reason I am interested in this fish combination is simply because I like Green Terror and I just want to add a similar to it fish that has more of a Read coloration contrasting with the blue colour of the Green Texas.
Thanks,
Alex
Yea. From.my experience, the 2 best ways that you can never go wrong for keeping aggression down is to:
1) Keep the fish well feed (2-3x daily)
2) The more fish the better without overstocking though.
I only have a 75 gallon and I keep a firemouth, blood parrot, jack Dempsey, green terror and Salvini without any problems. They get along so well.
never keep just 2 or 3 fish. they will always fight. Add more fish but don't overstock.
Ryan Heard quick question if you don't mind? Would you put a black belt with them?
I nice tank and ideas. I was thinking about getting electric blue Texas cichlids do you think they are as agressive as the green Texas?
Having an issue with 2 Oscars. The big one which has been the boss of the tank for the year he's been in has been dethroned by the smaller one and he's getting pounder on by it. The now dominant one is too big to put in a cookie jar so I've got a tank to put it in to take away it's dominance. How long should I house him in it for?
I have a baby flowerhorn and a baby royal pleco. The pleco is totally nipped. What do you recommend? And do you remove the fish during water changes?
I have an aggressive community tank also, it's a 240 gallon. I currently have in it a red devil, green texas, green terror, jack Dempsey, jaguar, yellow jacket, false yellow jacket, flowerhorn, Mayan, umbee, Oscars, and red belly Pike. All but the Oscars and Pike and juvenile and have all been together since they were an inch or two (bout 6 months so far) I want to add 4 aggressive fish from a 55 I have. How would you recommend acclimating? I feel like my balanced tank is so fragile, that adding could throw the aggression balance off.
I'm really scares of putting a red devil in my tank because of their fame as not being... Well... Angels. Is tank space an important thing to consider? If I have a lot of open water he will beat everything, right? But when do I know when to stop adding fish? I'm setting up a 100 gallon now to upgrade my 50 gal. Currently I have a severum pair, a KKP parrot pair, a Texas, a polleni and a jack Dempsey. Do you think they're compatible? Thanks bro, loved the video
Great info. In a 30 gal is it better to keep aggressive cichlids in pairs or only one of each? Considering Jewel Cichlid, Convict Cichlid or Firemouth.
fainsworld 1 keeping pairs just makes them even more aggressive especially the convict and jewel cichlid
Better get a 55 get a lot of hides and driftwood(2-3 pieces)
Get 3 jewel cichlid 2 convicts and 4 firemouths
Have you ever kept adult american cichlids before with this method and had success? I have had success like you before in the beginning but as soon as the fish actually get big they generally start causing some serious damage to each other.
I agree they kinda cool when they are balance
Thank you so much for the tips...I have a green terror who is trying to claim entire aquarium n I don't know how to control that. Would try the tips mentioned, hope that helps.
That’s funny because I’ve had 3 green terrors and they were all super calm. I’m thinking of getting a red terror for my community tank but scared that it’ll completely take over the tank.
Great suggestion however it didn't work with my Red Terror. She tried to kill everything in my tank and would have had I not traded her in. She already killed my Jaguar Cichlid, Green Terror and Texas Cichlid.
I thought i was the only on who understood everything he’s talking about
So do you just get rid of them when they get big? All those are small.
I have a chance to buy a Cuban Cichlid this weekend. I currently have in a 210 Gallon 2 Gold Saums"Green Terrors", 1 Carpintis Cichlid, 1 Salvini Cichlid, 2 Firemouth Cichlids, 1 Chocolate Cichlid, 1 Green Severum, 1 Red Shoulder Severum. Do you think it would work? What would you add or change to that list?
What is the 1" thick flat stuff, rock or concrete?
I want to create a 55 gallon cichlid community consisting of 3 rainbows 1 firemouth 1 jewel cichlid 1 convict and 1 blue acara. What is your opinion on this please reply thanks
Did u do it? Did the convict just take it over?
Have you tried flowerhorn
Do you have any dovii in your community tanks
Isn't concrete blocks bad for the fish?
What if your fish is too big for the jar method😂 actually wondering cause I have this problem but with some BIG fish
Go to homedepot buy egg crate aka light diffuser use that as a complete divider in ur tank. It's cheap and u break it to size with a knife karate chop style
I got a dovii and he fucks everything up keeps ripping fins off and taking chunks out of my jaguars only 5 inch
there are certain cichlids that are very hard to have in an aggressive community tank the two I always stay away from are
Dovii
Umbee
Dovii are a whole different kind of aggressive. Assholes really
This only works for juvenil cichlids, I hope your experience whem they are adults, is not the same tricks man.
Do you happen to have a favorite fish? I won't tell them.
Something Fishy Juno I think OG my orignal RT or my super red cuban have to be the top
Your FishKeeper Friend I'll make sure to look for him on your videos...
All I see is Donkey Kong....
your fish have a lot of growing to do, you will need a much bigger tank, and if they pair you will have dead fish
Rotflmfao
that's a very sad looking clown loach, and your tank is cloudy af. Deal with those two issues before you attempt to give advice.
twas brillig the tank is clean
@twas brillig you should probably open your eye a big before you comment. You see the the hose hanging out doing a water change at that very moment?
The cloudy water is due to bubbles in the water.
But by all means keep making yourself look silly.
i glanced at your other videos and they all appear cloudy. Maybe it partly old plexiglass contributing to it but try some carbon in your filter, see if it helps.
Carbon is trash. Can do some help for a short time but really not worth using. I've never had a consistent cloudy problem, there are tricks to helping faders fade which may give you the appearance of "Cloudy"
But you should check out recent videos.
Also you should glance at recent videos
Sorry for my antagonistic first comment, I was having a bad night. I do want to say that and also that carbon is not trash, however I agree the need to replace it is a major pain in the ass and becomes expensive. But even if you don't replace it as often as it should be it still creates great surface area for nitrifying bacteria and for collecting the micro particles that create that cloudy look.