So I started a new 55 gallon tank that has been cycled and just started adding fish. All was good so far I have a juliochromis dickfeldi, a lelupi, a birchardi and a goldhead calvus. Things were great in the tank until I added a black compressicep. It for sure made the calvus more active. The first 24 hours they stayed very close and would get big and turn sideways to each other with some chasing. The next day it was tons of lip locking to the point where both fish have torn up lips. I removed the calvus to another tank I use as a hospital tank. I have plenty of rocks and hiding spots but they both want the same spot. Any advice or should I just keep them separated? If so one might have to go back.
Summary: in general (of course), if you are going to combine calvus & comps or have more than one male in the genus (Altolamps) you are going to need multiple males (3 minimum).
Couple examples:
1 species (i.e. calvus): it's either one male or three+ males - NOT two.
Combining species: if you have a trio of calvus (1m/2f) and want to add comps, you will need add, at least two males and however many females you desire to make it work.
If you follow the "3 Male Rule" in general, the two species will completely ignore each even when spawning. Risk of hybridization is very low when following the 3 Male Rule. There are always exceptions, but chances are you will be successful (imo).
The gold head was sold to me as Sunset Calvus but looks similar to the gold heads I've seen.
Thank you for your advice I will try adding another male. I added the calvus back after adding some more shells and re-arranging some decorations and they seem to have a spot on opposite side of the tank and so far want nothing to do with each other. Looking for another male today.
Razzo you are a genius! Your advice was excellent and I understand that individual fish have individual personalities.
Let me clarify as my information before was incorrect. I had a sunset compressicep and black compressicep. They were the two fighting.
I added an inkfin Calvus to the tank and all is well. The fighting has ceased and the compressiceps hangout together on one side of the tank and the calvus on the other.
Razzo you are a genius! Your advice was excellent and I understand that individual fish have individual personalities.
Let me clarify as my information before was incorrect. I had a sunset compressicep and black compressicep. They were the two fighting.
I added an inkfin Calvus to the tank and all is well. The fighting has ceased and the compressiceps hangout together on one side of the tank and the calvus on the other.
Yes the tank is stocked like so now
-Goldhead Compressiceps
-Black Compressiceps
-Ink Fin Calvus
- Juliochromis Dickfeldi
-x3 Lelupi
-Birchardi
-Pleco
-Frontosa
That's a really interesting stocking. I'd love to get something like that going in my 75 gallon. What are the sizes of the fish? Did you add all but the new Altolamprologus at the same time? I'm curious about your scape. Can you post a picture?
Will take a picture when I get home I have gravel with lots of river rock and shells.
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