[FillingTheSilence]

Hey,
Im having some troubles with my fish getting along. I have 29g with breeding pair of multis, some juveniles and fry. *** added 2 Black calvus But the multi male does not like them!
It usually stays around the shells but its been chasing the calvus everywhere and around the rock pile at the other end of the tank.
1 of the calvus is now hanging up at the filter, what can i do to save it?
How can i get them to get along?
should i remove the male multi?
Please help, thanks

 

[MidNightCowBoy]

I think the answer might be more multis. That way the male will have to concentrate on the other multis as well as the calvus and he won't be able to just single the calvus out. Multis are colony forming so as long as you have plenty of shells and rocks you can have quite a few.

Maybe post a pic of your tank?

 

[wedrnkbeer]

You may need a visual barrier so that the comps may settle in to their own territory. Maybe even change the whole aquascape. The male probably is just defending what he believe's to be HIS territory, the entire tank!

 

[triscuit]

Good advice above, but also:

Time to rearrange the tank! :thumb: Redecorating will cause the multies to redefine their territory. Stack and pile the shells in one corner, stack and pile rocks at the opposit end, leaving some open sand in between. Make sure the calvus have some caves to hide in, and I suspect your multies will chill out. Adding a couple more multies isn't a bad idea either.

 

[CichlidWhisperer]

How big are the Calvus? I have this picture in my mind now of these little guys chasing a big calvus and it must be pretty funny to watch... Not that I don't feel sorry for the fish being chased though.

 

[youngb074]

I agree with the redecorating idea - some fish become so territorial that even if two separate rock piles are touching in the slightest way, in their eyes both piles become their territory.

 

[FillingTheSilence]

well sounds like i might need to rearrange the tank! Dont know if there is much i can change, i have all the shells at one end and the rocks the other end. Would just swapping it all work?

I have taken the male multi out for now and they seem fine, the calvus is back at the rocks and both are swimming in the open.

The calvus are only just bigger than the biggest multi.

Ill try get a pic up soon, my cameras batterys have died

 

[CichlidWhisperer]

I would do as you suggest and switch the rocks and shells. Then let everyone get used to it for a couple of weeks or even a month before you add the multi back in. That way they are established and he is the new fish.

 

[FillingTheSilence]

Hey Thanks for the advice everyone,
heres a pic of the tank as it is. i will put the shells at the other end and put the rock pile where the shells are now.What do u think? Im getting a cannister filter soon so that filter will be gone and have a bit more room there.

Otherwise the calvus are going great without the big multi in there, the juveniles are attacking them a little but it doesnt bother them much, it might change once i change things around on the weekend.

 

[triscuit]

Nice tank! :thumb:

THere will be bickering between the multies and calvus, but don't worry until someone is pushed into a corner or is getting beat up.

With the aquascaping: leave an open sandy area between the rocks and shells. Neither fish will have a strong claim to open sand, and that will allow greater separation of territories.

 

[wedrnkbeer]

A large plant in between may help as well as it will provide a visual barrier as well.

 

[triscuit]

I've had very little sucess with visual barriers and territory definition with Tang cichlids. If there is a structure, someone will likely try to claim it, be it rock, plant, or shell. Open space is much harder to claim, defend, and is more "dangerous" to cross because of the lack of shelter. I suspect the multies would be eyeing that plant, wondering if there's a predator using it for cover.

 

[FillingTheSilence]

Ok thanks for the advice.
Being only a small tank it will be hard to get much open space but ill try when i rearrange it on the weekend.