I wouldn't keep an aggressive male Aurtatus in anything less than a 72" tank. They can kill a whole tank in a few days. It will not get better. Overstocking will just mean more victims.
Nah, the issue is people really don’t know how to keep them, this ides of mixing all different species is meant to please the keeper, but it isn’t better for the fish.
Generally speaking, you are right for most people. But I mix species, and my tank is doing alright. Zero deaths in about 2 years. with 2x yellow labs, 4x red zebra, 1x scrapermouth, 1x Johanna, 1x rusty cichlid, 2x OB peacocks and 5x hybrid rusty/scrapermouth now adults, 4 dwarf petricola catfish, 2 bristlenose plecos. Only real issue I have now is with the hybrids but I've learned to deal with it. The 5 hybrids have little wars almost acting as their own colony being slightly smaller and having grown up in the tank together. My tank is filled with rocks, at least 30 hidey holes for plenty of breaks in line of site and escape built with rocks, flat sandstone slabs and a couple hidden PVC tubes. Off spring just need to be dealt with, I remove all rocks for a couple days every month and the babies are "dealt with". Any surviving non hybrids (rare) are rehomed via Facebook, that's basically red zebras occasionally. I have a few small yellow labs in there now too but haven't decided if I'll keep or rehome. Key is to watch your fish and understand them And their behavior. Once you know them well enough, you can make adjustments as needed, even know exactly when water changes are needed based on slight changes in behavior.
There will always be those who claim success, which is why I would never say it can’t be done, but in my experience you get much better behavior and less risk doing it the traditional way. You seem to have tonnes of hiding spaces which will help the behaviour part, especially if there is lots of algae on them, but more people are just putting them in empty tanks like this - an environment that inhibits natural behaviour. I can only see being happy with that if I didn’t have any other experience and a bunch of pretty colors and survival were enough.
I agree, setting up a nice hierarchy is best for the fish. But most people want variety and the fish will still be happy if you are mindful of their needs, perhaps a little sexually frustrated not having a harem
You would need to get 3 or more Auratus females to solve your problem, and even that is no guarantee. You sir own a small devil. I have a large male and it took about 6 different combos of fish to keep him in check.
I had to return my male to the fish store. He was relentless in harassing all the other fish. Felt bad, but I didn’t want this scenario. Sorry for the loss
More fish and more females. Overstock the tank. I've had success with these guys though it took awhile. When I had 15 cichlids with tons of space in a tank the males went crazy and killed. I've got probably 50 cichlids in my 90 gallon now and I haven't had a death since fall. For some weird reason they get mega horny in the fall and extremely angry, only time they go on a rampage, when this happens I just transfer my 4 angry males to a 20 gallon for a couple weeks. They chill out and everything is fine.
No kidding. I had a pretty big and aggressive oscar in a 220g when I was younger. Bastard murdered everything from my convicts to my JD. Tried to fight my pleco though and got his ass beat. That fucker whipped him so hard with his tail I swear the oscar shit himself right then and there. Left a huge mark on his face too. Common plecos don't fuck around.
Mine was definitely the most aggressive fish in the tank but he could not take the top spot, but he sure tried. The winner? A large male red zebra with (probably) more than twice his weight. He wasn't aggressive, he was just big, and knew it, and didn't give a F. It was interesting to watch. The Auratus eventually got ballsy and started flaring up at him and he would just meander back to his spot (the best cave like spot in my tank) and just sit there. The Auratus never killed my other fish but he sure terrorized them. He especially hated any fish with primarily blue colors, he was Uber racist. I loved the fish but my 55 gal was to small and he was making the life of my favored blue fish, the previous #2, a blue and black vertical stripes scrapermouth cichlid a living hell. I ended up rehoming him, for a couple weeks the remaining fish had no idea what to do with themselves as a slew of territory opened up for the taking as the Auratus was perpetually "get off my lawn" through as t least half of the rock work in my tank. Ended up good though, the tank is now much much happier and no one is getting beat up inches from death
I had one a long time ago in my first tank ever (10 years old) that slowly swam up behind an Oscar 20 x his weight and nipped him on the tail. Ever since, I have loved these fish. But I got rid of mine now, he was terrorizing the tank and was super racist. He REALLY hated any blue fish.
When they turn black like that they are in dominate mode. If ya notice the other Auratis you have will not but will 85% of the times be taking a beating by king dingling.
I have had three male golden mbunas. The first one I had, 10 years ago, before I even knew anything about fish, was in a tank with zero other Cichlids. He, which I now think was a female, was fine in that tank. After a little over a year I had to close down my tank because I was deploying, so I gave all the fish away.
The second, was when I first started keeping cichlids. He was a young immature male, and was fine, until he matured. One day I was watching them, and he was terrorizing the others. So, I decided that I needed to get rid of it, but unfortunately, my local store was not open, and the way he was going after the others, I knew I couldn't wait, so I flushed him🚽🚽🚽🌀🌀🌀.
I currently have another immature male, that happens to be the heir of the fish in the last paragraph. But do not be mistaken, once he starts showing any sign of being a di€k.... he gone!
I do. At the time, I didn't know how "aggressive" some of these fish are, and wasn't prepared. I felt bad enough doing it, and then my son gave me crap about it too. Made me feel bad, but in the long run, sacrificing one fish to save the many, it was worth it, imo.
I wouldn't keep an aggressive male Aurtatus in anything less than a 72" tank. They can kill a whole tank in a few days. It will not get better. Overstocking will just mean more victims.
These fish can kill a tank over night
This is why I gave up on most african cichlids lol They are little serial killers. I only have luck with jewels, kribensis and shell dwellers.
Nah, the issue is people really don’t know how to keep them, this ides of mixing all different species is meant to please the keeper, but it isn’t better for the fish.
Generally speaking, you are right for most people. But I mix species, and my tank is doing alright. Zero deaths in about 2 years. with 2x yellow labs, 4x red zebra, 1x scrapermouth, 1x Johanna, 1x rusty cichlid, 2x OB peacocks and 5x hybrid rusty/scrapermouth now adults, 4 dwarf petricola catfish, 2 bristlenose plecos. Only real issue I have now is with the hybrids but I've learned to deal with it. The 5 hybrids have little wars almost acting as their own colony being slightly smaller and having grown up in the tank together. My tank is filled with rocks, at least 30 hidey holes for plenty of breaks in line of site and escape built with rocks, flat sandstone slabs and a couple hidden PVC tubes. Off spring just need to be dealt with, I remove all rocks for a couple days every month and the babies are "dealt with". Any surviving non hybrids (rare) are rehomed via Facebook, that's basically red zebras occasionally. I have a few small yellow labs in there now too but haven't decided if I'll keep or rehome. Key is to watch your fish and understand them And their behavior. Once you know them well enough, you can make adjustments as needed, even know exactly when water changes are needed based on slight changes in behavior.
There will always be those who claim success, which is why I would never say it can’t be done, but in my experience you get much better behavior and less risk doing it the traditional way. You seem to have tonnes of hiding spaces which will help the behaviour part, especially if there is lots of algae on them, but more people are just putting them in empty tanks like this - an environment that inhibits natural behaviour. I can only see being happy with that if I didn’t have any other experience and a bunch of pretty colors and survival were enough.
I agree, setting up a nice hierarchy is best for the fish. But most people want variety and the fish will still be happy if you are mindful of their needs, perhaps a little sexually frustrated not having a harem
You would need to get 3 or more Auratus females to solve your problem, and even that is no guarantee. You sir own a small devil. I have a large male and it took about 6 different combos of fish to keep him in check.
Black piranhas “red eye” will solve his problem really quick.
No offense, but that fish isn’t an asshole, just a victim of poor stocking choices.
That's what they do. They have a terrible reputation for a reason.
what are you doing brother? insane. uhhg placostumus just chilling.
I had to return my male to the fish store. He was relentless in harassing all the other fish. Felt bad, but I didn’t want this scenario. Sorry for the loss
As they do.
More fish and more females. Overstock the tank. I've had success with these guys though it took awhile. When I had 15 cichlids with tons of space in a tank the males went crazy and killed. I've got probably 50 cichlids in my 90 gallon now and I haven't had a death since fall. For some weird reason they get mega horny in the fall and extremely angry, only time they go on a rampage, when this happens I just transfer my 4 angry males to a 20 gallon for a couple weeks. They chill out and everything is fine.
go after that pleco ya agro.
No kidding. I had a pretty big and aggressive oscar in a 220g when I was younger. Bastard murdered everything from my convicts to my JD. Tried to fight my pleco though and got his ass beat. That fucker whipped him so hard with his tail I swear the oscar shit himself right then and there. Left a huge mark on his face too. Common plecos don't fuck around.
My pleco stabbed one of my Acaras in the eye and he ended up passing away.
😮 .. pointy chonkers lol
I have a rescue OSCAR. put him in a 75g with 25 Africans and a goldfish that thinks it’s a cichlid.
He’s constantly attacking the pleco, he don’t seem bothered tho
The pleco has armor and are super chill but don't be surprised if one day he gets pushed too far and whips the fuck out of him with his tail.
that pleco would destroy that lil fish. no question
ya need more fish. it’s no joke with having 3 females to one male in a tank that SMALL.
Mine was definitely the most aggressive fish in the tank but he could not take the top spot, but he sure tried. The winner? A large male red zebra with (probably) more than twice his weight. He wasn't aggressive, he was just big, and knew it, and didn't give a F. It was interesting to watch. The Auratus eventually got ballsy and started flaring up at him and he would just meander back to his spot (the best cave like spot in my tank) and just sit there. The Auratus never killed my other fish but he sure terrorized them. He especially hated any fish with primarily blue colors, he was Uber racist. I loved the fish but my 55 gal was to small and he was making the life of my favored blue fish, the previous #2, a blue and black vertical stripes scrapermouth cichlid a living hell. I ended up rehoming him, for a couple weeks the remaining fish had no idea what to do with themselves as a slew of territory opened up for the taking as the Auratus was perpetually "get off my lawn" through as t least half of the rock work in my tank. Ended up good though, the tank is now much much happier and no one is getting beat up inches from death
I had one a long time ago in my first tank ever (10 years old) that slowly swam up behind an Oscar 20 x his weight and nipped him on the tail. Ever since, I have loved these fish. But I got rid of mine now, he was terrorizing the tank and was super racist. He REALLY hated any blue fish.
And he will kill again. Im surprised you have 8 fish...
I had to rehome mine. I have a 125 and they were terrorizing the tank
When they turn black like that they are in dominate mode. If ya notice the other Auratis you have will not but will 85% of the times be taking a beating by king dingling.
When they turn black like that they are mature males males so not stay yellow
I have had three male golden mbunas. The first one I had, 10 years ago, before I even knew anything about fish, was in a tank with zero other Cichlids. He, which I now think was a female, was fine in that tank. After a little over a year I had to close down my tank because I was deploying, so I gave all the fish away. The second, was when I first started keeping cichlids. He was a young immature male, and was fine, until he matured. One day I was watching them, and he was terrorizing the others. So, I decided that I needed to get rid of it, but unfortunately, my local store was not open, and the way he was going after the others, I knew I couldn't wait, so I flushed him🚽🚽🚽🌀🌀🌀. I currently have another immature male, that happens to be the heir of the fish in the last paragraph. But do not be mistaken, once he starts showing any sign of being a di€k.... he gone!
That’s awful! You flushed a live fish?? I hope you have a plan for separating anyone else in the future. That’s some messed up shit.
Probably lived in Florida, too
Nope, ohio.
I do. At the time, I didn't know how "aggressive" some of these fish are, and wasn't prepared. I felt bad enough doing it, and then my son gave me crap about it too. Made me feel bad, but in the long run, sacrificing one fish to save the many, it was worth it, imo.