cichlids keeping killing

1541 Views 16 Replies 6 Participants Last post by dsm123, Apr 24, 2011

dsm123

Discussion Starter · Apr 19, 2011

I have 2 convicts 2 jack dempseys 1 kenya i bumblebee 1 greenterror and then 2 others do not know what kind 1 catfish 1 pelco 75 gl tank. I had put feeder fish in my tank before and gone within 5 minutes just 2 to see what would go down since the 2 convicts are a year old same with dempseys. So a month or so down the line i was like huh nothing bads bein going on no fighting no fish hiding except dempseys but i can never find them. when i had put the feeder fish in 4 at this time 2 3 days later my electric blue jack dempseys was at the bottom of the tank dead.??? Well could not figure it out so i was like ill throw a oscar in their and see how this works by the next morning dead to..?? i did all steps like i have in the past but its odd to see my electric blue die after having it for 2-3 months then within 24 a oscar dead 2.. Any ideas of what could be causing them to react like this (feeder fish are still in the tank)

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

OscarDempsey

· #2 · Apr 20, 2011

If you have not checked your water parameters that would be a good place to start. It's possible also that the feeders introduced sone kind of illness. You should post your water parameters and any symptoms your other fish are displaying so some of the more experienced members can help. Sorry to hear about the fish

Flippercon

· #3 · Apr 20, 2011

Are your convicts a pair? Most pairs are mean and will kill other fish really fast. How big was the Ebjd and the Oscar?

MonteSS

· #4 · Apr 20, 2011

Ya. Lets see the water test first. Best to start with the basics before jumping to conclusions.

What is?
Amonia
Nitrites
Nitrates
temp
ph
filtration

If you dont/cant test it yourself, take a water sample to your LFS and have them test it.

Do you do waterchanges?

Then we can discuss the tank stocking.

....Bill

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dsm123

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 20, 2011

my temp is around 80 maybe 79 my ph was like 8.2 i think i did it yesterday ammonia 0 ppm nitrite same nitrate the same. the ebjd was about a inch and a half same with the oscar the convicts arent the ones its the white with brown spots who was messing with the oscar the most same with the bumble bee. now the kenya is chasing the one with the horizontal stripes bluish purple with white but i did a water change last week also changed filter pads in the penguin and i have not mest with my ac110.

dsm123

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 20, 2011

Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos Nimbochromis livingstonii those are what i think they are just slightly diffrent colors but around the same patterns i guess.

Flippercon

· #7 · Apr 20, 2011

Well if your parameters are ok then I would look into the jds or the cons. The Ebjd is a very week fish at under 3". The Oscar I would say something is killing them. How is the temperament of the cons and jds. Can you post some pics of the fish that are still alive? Feeder fish are bad due to parasites, unless you get them from a good source or raise them yourself.

OscarDempsey

· #8 · Apr 20, 2011

Your aggression problem is probably because you have African cichlids mixed with new world cichlids. Do the dead fish have any visible injuries?

dsm123

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 20, 2011

i do not know how to post pics up here i tried and they honestly run the tank the 2 cons and jd my biggest jd when he comes out all fighting gets seized for some reason and if they try anythign he usualy throws them around its weird but they honestly did not have any marks just white with no eyes or fins. I know for a fact the oscar was killed by one of the others or others they were all chasing him and biting the sides but they dont have any problem with the feeder fish if i could catch them i would and bring them back or something. and my jd ate one of the feeder fish and he is fine.

TheFishGuy

· #10 · Apr 21, 2011

Until oscars hit atleast 5-6" they are fragile, not the predators their adult counter parts can be. They do not stand a chance against cichlids of the same size when under 5".

Your aggression problem is probably because you have African cichlids mixed with new world cichlids.

This is not entirely accurate. The improper mix of fish is what is causing the aggression. Where they come from in the world doesn't have anything to do with it.

A person could argue that africans and CA/SA require different water conditions. Not true in every case, especially with the species being kept in this situation. These species are all common and captive raised for hundreds of generations by now. They do not have the slightest clue ast to what their water parameters are "supposed" to be. Cichlids are one of the most adaptable creatures on the planet which is why they are easily kept and bred in home aquaria.

Plain and simple, dsm123s tank is over stocked and established. Introducing new cichlids to the hierarchy this late in the game is going to end in tragedy. Cichlids establish a pecking order in a glass box. Once that pecking order is challenged the entire dynamics of a tank will be broken down causing havok.

Posting pictures:

1. Sign up for a free account with a one of these web sites:
www.freewebspace.net
www.photobucket.com

Hope this helps.

2. Upload the pictures from your PC to that online site. Pictures will be stored on their server and then accessible anywhere on the WWW.

3. After the upload is complete, view the photo you wish to post here. Right-click on the picture and then select Properties. Copy the Address (URL).

4. On this forum, Write in your post the following:

Code:

5. THEN, before you SUBMIT your post, be sure to PREVIEW it first. You should see the image. If not, double check your code.

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dsm123

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 21, 2011

true but i still do not see why it would be over stocked or why the ebjd would turn up dead when i put the other 5 in their at the same time and no problem thats why i am so confused their was never a problem before and i have had the cichlids well the new ones since january just doesnt make any sense to me.

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3

Elijah

· #12 · Apr 21, 2011

Wow dsm, you've got a nice setup man! Just my opinion, but do you intend on putting a background on? I found my fish feel more at ease with not having to stare at electrical cords all the time, so I just threw some limo black window tint on the back.

I have 2 convicts 2 jack dempseys 1 kenya i bumblebee 1 greenterror

Geese, you might as well as throw in an aurastus too!

TheFishGuy

· #13 · Apr 22, 2011

Your fish are young now and small. Eventually it will get even more hairy once they mature. I guess that's what I meant by over stocked...

dsm123

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 23, 2011

yes i do plan on putting a background but idk how long i plan to keep this tank i plan on getting a 125 later on. but will they keep attacking the others with the ones that are in their now once they mature?

MonteSS

· #15 · Apr 24, 2011

dsm123 said:
yes i do plan on putting a background but idk how long i plan to keep this tank i plan on getting a 125 later on. but will they keep attacking the others with the ones that are in their now once they mature?

Correct. African and Central/South American cichlids usually dont play nice together. I would choose one or the other.

....Bill

Flippercon

· #16 · Apr 24, 2011

Ebjd are known for not being hardy under three inches. I have experienced this first hand. I purchased 9 Ebjd under 1.5" and as the months went on I would lose one here and there with no apparent signs of illness or stress. I now have 5 of the 9 left and that's good odds on Ebjd. If you really wAnt to keep Ebjd they need to be kept alone until they get past three inches. Once they reach that point they are just as hardy as regular jds. They grow much slower and are a lot less aggressive.

dsm123

Discussion Starter · #17 · Apr 24, 2011

i see thanks for the info

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