I don't mind off topic. Discussions are discussions :thumb:
Currently my Cyno's rule the tank. I have 2 mature equally dominant males that are absolutely stunning. They've been great to watch the past few weeks as the dominant female was getting ready to spawn. During this period they chased the rest of my tank inhabitants into about 40% of the tank.
I think the right side of my tank is now the lover's side as my dominant rusty has taken up his den on that side.
In general though I think my fish are still to immature to make any final determination.
The Polits are not showing color yet. They fight among themselves and the rusties. Right now I view them as 2nd from the bottom in terms of tank dominance. This is definitely going to change as they get bigger though.
The Chewere seem to mainly just fight among themselves. They are slowest growing group out of my mix. I have 2 males that display constantly and fight every once in a while.
My 7 Tropheops Elongatus Boadzulu are now down to 3 and my hunch right now is 2m and 1f. I lost one fish within 24 hours of a 50% water change. I then lost 2 more 48 hours after upgrading to my 100g tank. Then another one broke out with a bacterial infection that ate a hole in its side. The LFS guy believes the 3 recent deaths are all related to aggression and territories being sorted out after I upgraded to the 100g tank.
Since I'm not sure as to who/what killed these tropheops I'm actually starting completely over with the group. Another 7 juvies arrive tomorrow and I'll probably rehome the 3 I have in case there was a male picking off the others in the group. The 3 I have now chase around the tank and do some mouth locking fights but nothing serious... it seems that whenever a serious fight breaks out the whole tank gets involved and it breaks up pretty quick. They do a lot of lurking in the shadows compared to my other fish.
My 7 rusties are happy, healthy, and mellow. The one dominant male is the biggest fish in my tank but he doesn't ever challenge the Cyno's for top dog. They do play referee though a lot and break up fights.
I will be adding Petrotilapia Small Blue to this mix in a couple weeks. They arrive tomorrow and will be in quarantine for a while.
So all that to say... the next few months should be interesting.
I really enjoy this mix of fish. There is always something exciting going on. Yeah these fish are aggressive but if I ever think they are too aggressive I just go look at my pearly ocellatus tank. Then the mbuna seem like peace lovers
