[Matt54]

I have a 125g with about 16 Mbuna in it...the dominate male(and biggest fish) is a 4.5" Snow White Socofoli(Pseudotropheus socolofi )...usually once he starts getting territorial I just change the decor around and that calms everthing down. This time however it hasn't stopped him. He is trying to take control of 1/2 the tank!
What is the best way to deal with him, excpet giving him away. I have had him for almost 3 years and I just need to calm him down...any ideas?
thanks

 

[lotsofish]

I've heard that some folks put their bad boys in time-out. Try putting him in another tank for a while. Since moving decor around worked before, time-out may work for you.

 

[chapman76]

Yup, I've put them in time out and done the rearrange thing, but it only works so many times. Your best bet is to add more fish or possibly a larger more dominance fish to keep him in line. There were a few mbuna I had to keep in my larger hap tank to keep them in line as they beat on any fish even close in size.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

 

[Darkside]

I have a giant crabro that has to live on its own because its level of aggression. He killed and ate (half of) a 4" zebra and a 5" kennyi. Now he lives on his own with a single stealthy tiger barb for company.

 

[iceblue]

You could remove him but chances are another will take his place as the dominant fish.

As Mbuna go you are understocked. With good filtration you could easily double the number of fish plus another 5 or 6 over what you are presently keeping.
Overcrowded conditions are one of the musts used to keep aggression under control. In an overcrowded tank a male may be very aggressive but thier are so many target fish he'll have to claim a smaller area to protect or run himself ragged trying to maintain a larger territory. It also helps to keep Mbuna of similar aggressive tendancies but of different stripe and color. Males of different species with similar appearance will see each other as competition for food and females and the fight will be on.

Provide plenty of rockwork, lower the temperature, overcrowd the fish and regular frequent small feedings are all good tricks to keep the boistrous Mbuna under control.

 

[Matt54]

thanks for all the replys...

I just upgraded from a 75g two weeks ago! So everyone is trying to claim the new territories. I went out this week and got about 40lbs of lava and lace rock to go with the rocks etc in the tank now. Plus I ordered 8 more fish online that will be here tomorrow!!! The rocks go in tonight, fish when they arrive tomorrow...Hopefully that will help, otherwise I will be putting that punk in timeout!

thanks again.

 

[cichlidaholic]

What is your current stock list?

What have you ordered?

 

[Matt54]

oh no, looks like I might get in trouble for this list...I had a plan when I started out, All Male Mbuna tank, then I kept seeing fish that I liked and it has changed...so my numbers were off. here is what is in my MIXED tank now, with 23 fish!

Albino Socofoli (M) (4.5â€

 

[Darkside]

So... basically you're experiencing growing pains, it'll likely get worse as well!

 

[cichlidaholic]

Ouch... :lol:

I predict huge problems, but I don't know where to start!

For the sizes you have listed, alot of your fish are just starting to mature. I think this is just the beginning of your problems unless you make some major changes.

 

[chapman76]

I agree with the above two. It could be WWIII soon.

Hope it works out. Sometimes when they're getting to sexual maturity, there is problems and then it dies down once dominance is reestablished.

 

[iceblue]

Wow. I agree with the 3 above posts. My earlier post assumed you had given me all the stocking info on your tank. Now that you have posted your actual stocking list I'm with Cichliaholic. Where to begin?

 

[Matt54]

I appreciate everyone’s concern for the fishes! :fish: I do everything necessary / possible to keep the fish happy and safe from bullies and stress. such as constant water changes, introduction of more places to hide (right now I have over 25 caves/spots for the fish), extra filtration and daily watching to see the tank temperament etc. I did a big cleaning last night and did some re-aquascaping and that has calmed everything down for now...I do have a 75g, 29g, 29g, 20g, 15g, 10g, 10g with supplies for each waiting in the back room if I have to set-them up. Plus I already have 2 other 55g running right now... Once I get a chance I will post some pictures for all to see.
thanks again for your concern. I appreciate that people care as much about the fish as I do. :thumb:

 

[Dewdrop]

:drooling: At least you have plenty of tanks to work with :thumb: . I'm soooo jealous lol. I'd love to take that 75g. and one of the 29g.'s off your hands to free up some space in your back room :lol: Heck if you were real nice to me I'd even take a extra 10g. off your hands too.

Seriously though, something tells me you might have to be setting up another one or two. Maybe give a stocking list of each of the 55g.'s you have running too then maybe Kim or someone can help you by suggesting what to put where lol. Sounds like loads and loads of fun! Can't wait to see pics too :wink:

 

[Dewdrop]

Shoot I got so excited by all those tanks I almost forgot you original problem with the albino socolofi :lol:

I have 3 of them that are about a year old now. I know one is male because of his attitude. I know another one is female because I saw her drop eggs. The third one, I'm not sure about. It's either a subdominate male or another female.

The one I know for sure is male has his own cave that has been moved to the far end of the tank so he doesn't bother everybody. He sure is protective of his cave and does alot of showing off and strutting his stuff but it helps alot to have him at the end of the tank. I have him in a 55g. that is way overstocked and that helps alot with him too. I really like him alot and think that species is just beautiful. I'd like to get more females for him but all I can find is juvies and even they are few and far between around here any more. I recently picked up the only one Walmart had and I'm hoping it's female. It will take forever to find out because it's so darn small.

 

[Matt54]

Seriously though, something tells me you might have to be setting up another one or two. Maybe give a stocking list of each of the 55g.'s you have running too then maybe Kim or someone can help you by suggesting what to put where lol. Sounds like loads and loads of fun! Can't wait to see pics too :wink:[/quote]

not a bad idea...
the fish came in today, but unfortunately 2 didn't make it...here is what I am looking at:

125g stock is listed above, plus:
2 Yellow Labs â€" F1 â€" Kakusa (1.5â€

 

[DJRansome]

Since you did not already have Hongi in the 125G I'm not understanding how adding them will help overstock your tank and spread aggression. Unless you have all one sex, aggression is not likely to be spread across all species. Aggression is generally spread WITHIN a species group.

When you have too few females for every male, the most harmful and continuous aggression is likely to be directed toward the females.

So for the 125G I would remove all females or choose 5 species and shoot for 1m:4f of each (maybe more for any dwarf species you might choose as one of the five).