TailorO said:
3 Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (unknown) 2in
1 Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos "Maingano" (male?) 3in
1 Pseudotropheus socolofi "albino" (male?) 3in
1 Metriaclima greshakei "Ice Blue" (male) 5in
2 Metriaclima estherae "OB" (unknown) 2in & 3in
1 Iodotropheus sprengerae "Rusty" (unknown) 2.5in
1 Metriaclima callainos "Cobalt" (female?) 3in
1 Melanochromis auratus (male) 3in
2 Metriaclima lombardoi "Kenyi" (female) 3in
1 Pseudotropheus crabro "Bumble Bee" (female?) 3in
3 Labidochromis caeruleus "Yellow Lab" (2 unknown, 1 male?) 2in & 4in
2 Metriaclima estherae "Red Zebra" (female) 3.5in
3 Clown Loaches 3in
1 Red Tailed Shark 6in
1 Pleco 8in[/img]
TailorO, with
this stock list in a 55G tank, you can't really anticipate the fish to behave as predicted in the profiles.
It's not always about stocking a tank to discourage crossbreeding. In your case, removing one hyper aggressive fish is only going to set the stage for another one to step up into his position.
I can understand liking alot of different looking fish, I've been where you are. :wink: But many of the fish you have are unrealistic in a tank this size under the best of circumstances. As they all mature, it's only going to get worse...
All cichlids are aggressive to some extent. I can't think of a one that isn't...Truly...I would place the socolofi about mid range aggression wise, but only if they are housed properly.
To make the best out of a tank, you have to stock the fish properly.
If you really like one of this and one of that, then perhaps you should go all male with the tank and remove the females completely. But even then, you have some fish (auratus, crabro and kenyi) who probably won't work in this tank long term. I tried an all male mbuna tank and didn't care for it much after keeping breeding groups, thank goodness I kept all my girls in another tank.
As for the ich, yes, clown loaches are prone to ich. But a high stress tank is prone to ich, also...Not to mention other more serious health issues...