New Keyhole cichlid...

[MrDrums]

Hi all...just recently got a new Keyhole cichlid in my tank....I have had a geophagus heckelii and a severum for a year now, and they get along great. I tried to add a blue acara a few months back, but he beat on the geo, so I had to remove him. The LFS highly recommended the keyhole, as a gentle, special fish. So far he is great....little harrassment form the sev, some "love taps" from geo. He does spend a lot of time hiding...very timid. I assume he is just trying to settle in. Hopefully he can hold his own.

Does anyone have experience with keyhol cichlids here? Just wondering what others' thoughts were about them. Thanks all!:c3:

[OscarFan]

Keyholes are peacful so i would keep an eye on him becuase the severum might harrass him alot.

[MrDrums]

The only time I have seen the severum pester the keyhole is when there is food in the tank. At that point, the severum gets mad at everyone in the tank. He seems to be very protective of his food lately....a somewhat new behavior....his colors come out, they change often...

So the keyhole is not being overly stressed by the sev. The 3 cichlids are doing, I belive, some "negotiations" over the tank territory.

[elmer]

I have a couple of keyholes, but they are the most aggressive fish in the tank - no other cichlids. They like live snails and worms, and water changes. Changes in tank layout can make them timid for a day or two. They are said to need lots of horizontal real estate to call their own. In my tank they basically own the bottom 1/4 of the tank vertically. Sounds like your tank is bigger than mine; just make sure they get some territory of their own, I think. I have mine at about 79 degrees F, and pH 7.8-ish; kind of high in both cases.

[Lady Hobbs]

Maybe a couple of his friends will bring out his shyness some.

[elmer]

Yes, they are often kept in pairs. Also, thought you might enjoy this forum all about keyhole cichlids: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
Although it is in French, there is an English section.

[MrDrums]

Thanks for the responses all. Sorry it has been a while since I checked this thread. Happy to say my keyhole is doing just great.....often seen swimming side by side with the geo, and no problems at all with the severum (who is still the boss of everything in there). Those 3 fish, plus the 2 rainbows come right out to the glass when I approach. The keyhole is competing much better for his food now, and looks great...nice dark coloration. Wonderful fish....I'd get another if I thought I had room, but these 3 big boys seem to be doing just great the way they are now.

Thanks!:c3: