what shall i do about bully firemouth?

[keithabi]

I have 2 firemouths in my community tank, i've had them for a week and they seemed fine, stayed close most of the time, very active and friendly towards each other. Unfortunately late yesterday i noticed that the smaller of the two had what looks like a bite out of its dorsal fin at the head end, and a split through its tail. It was staying at the top corner of the tank and the larger one is periodically attacking it. Every time the poor thing ventures out of the corner it gets attacked and sometimes when it is in the corner. I don't know what to do but i don't want to let it be killed, should i remove the bully from the tank? Advice please!!

[cocoa_pleco]

What size tank? chances are theyre having a territory fight if its a smaller tank

[Lady Hobbs]

I would return them. Firemouths are cichlids and are not for community tanks. You're apt to see many others being attacked, as well.

Firemouths are also more aggressive to their own species than that of others but regardless, cichlids don't belong in community tanks.

[cocoa_pleco]

very few cichlids are for communities. In a FEW cases, a ram or krib will work, else no

[keithabi]

That's strange because i only got them on the recommendation of the staff at my local pets at home, she seemed to know what she was talking about. We wanted to get a silver shark and a red finned black shark and asked her what would go well with them. She recommended the 2 dwarf guaramis and a siamese fighter. After an hour or so in the tank the siame started picking on everything in sight so i took it back. She then said the firemouths would do well in my tank.

[Nautilus29]

firemouths are more aggressive twards there own kind. I have one in with some other cichlids and It does really well with them. If you want to you can try to take back one of them but it would probibly better to just take both of them back.

[Lady Hobbs]

Fish that may (or may not) go with Firemouths:

(Fish should be of similar size.)
Barbs:</B>Large Rosy Barb (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10barb_rosy.htm), Large Tiger Barb (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10barb_tiger.htm), Tinfoil Barb (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10barb_tinfoil.htm) Catfish: Channel Ca (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cat_channel.htm)tfish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cat_channel.htm), Plecostomus Catfish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10plecostomus.htm), Pimodella Catfish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cat_polkadotpimodella.htm), Porthole Catfish Cichlids: Blue Acara Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_blueacara.htm), African Mouthbrooder (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_africanmouthbrooder.htm), Convict Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_convict.htm), Festae Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_festae.htm), Firemouth Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_firemouth.htm), Green Terror Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_greenterror.htm), Jack Dempsey Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_jackdempsey.htm), Manganese Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_managuense.htm), Pike Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_pike.htm), Port Cichlid, Rainbow Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_rainbow.htm), Red Devil Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_reddevil.htm), Red Tilapia Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_redtilapia.htm), Salvani Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_salvani.htm), Sunray Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_sunray.htm), Texas Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_texas.htm)
Eels: Large Fire Eel
Knifefish: Large African Knifefish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10knifefish.htm)Rainbowfish:Large Australian Rainbowfish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10rainbowfish_australian.htm) Sharks: Black Shark (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10shark_black.htm), Iridescent Shark (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10shark_irridescent.htm), Red Tail Shark (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10shark_redtail.htm), Red Rainbow Shark (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10shark_redrainbow.htm) Other Fish: Large Chinese Algae Eater (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10algaeeater.htm), Annostomus (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10annostomus.htm), Snakehead, Wolf fish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10wolffish.htm), Abrimites Headstander (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10headstander_abrimites.htm), Pacu (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10pacu.htm)

This does not mean all but some.

[cocoa_pleco]

Fish that may (or may not) go with Firemouths:

(Fish should be of similar size.)
Barbs:</B>Large Rosy Barb (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10barb_rosy.htm), Large Tiger Barb (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10barb_tiger.htm), Tinfoil Barb (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10barb_tinfoil.htm) Catfish: Channel Ca (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cat_channel.htm)tfish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cat_channel.htm), Plecostomus Catfish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10plecostomus.htm), Pimodella Catfish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cat_polkadotpimodella.htm), Porthole Catfish Cichlids: Blue Acara Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_blueacara.htm), African Mouthbrooder (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_africanmouthbrooder.htm), Convict Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_convict.htm), Festae Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_festae.htm), Firemouth Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_firemouth.htm), Green Terror Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_greenterror.htm), Jack Dempsey Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_jackdempsey.htm), Manganese Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_managuense.htm), Pike Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_pike.htm), Port Cichlid, Rainbow Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_rainbow.htm), Red Devil Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_reddevil.htm), Red Tilapia Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_redtilapia.htm), Salvani Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_salvani.htm), Sunray Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_sunray.htm), Texas Cichlid (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_texas.htm)
Eels: Large Fire Eel
Knifefish: Large African Knifefish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10knifefish.htm)Rainbowfish:Large Australian Rainbowfish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10rainbowfish_australian.htm) Sharks: Black Shark (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10shark_black.htm), Iridescent Shark (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10shark_irridescent.htm), Red Tail Shark (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10shark_redtail.htm), Red Rainbow Shark (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10shark_redrainbow.htm) Other Fish: Large Chinese Algae Eater (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10algaeeater.htm), Annostomus (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10annostomus.htm), Snakehead, Wolf fish (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10wolffish.htm), Abrimites Headstander (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10headstander_abrimites.htm), Pacu (http://www.elmersaquarium.com/10pacu.htm)

This does not mean all but some.



I lOVE that website, it tells you what can go with it and has tons of links

[nanaglen2001]

@ Keithabi

I would like to get some answers from you. how big is your tank and in which way is it decorated?

I keep 5 fully grown Meekis together with 4 fully grown T-bar Cichlids, a big bunch of Mollies and Swordtails and 2 groups of cories together in a 110 galon tank.

In it are lots of roots and plants (life) so the guy who gets it all for the day can hide away. Then I found out its better To keep at least 2 females with one male Meeki. But best would be to pack a small group of young Meekis into the tank and let them find out for themselves.

My dominant males have their 5 minutes every day, but its more showtime and flashing of gills, than real fighting.

Meekis just need place and hiding places, then they are normally peaceful minded (for cichlids) inhabitants in a community tank, when the other inhabitants arnt too small. I found out that when a babymolly reaces 1,5 cm size, it is safe (even though it would still fit perfectly into a Meekimouth).

Minimum size for one pair is at least!!!! 50 Galons.

Here is my green Meekihell :ezpi_wink1:

[Lady Hobbs]

I lOVE that website, it tells you what can go with it and has tons of links

I LOVE this website as well. And like you, I like the idea that it gives "suggestions" as to what will work together and what will not. There's always the exception of a fish too aggressive but on the most part, I think the sites hits it very well.

[Lady Hobbs]

Nanaglen.....so glad you posted so I could DROWL over your beautiful tank once again! I would love it right in my house and full of rainbows!!

[Drumachine09]

Nanaglen.....so glad you posted so I could DROWL over your beautiful tank once again! I would love it right in my house and full of rainbows!!


I am so UNBELIVIBLY jelous of that tank! Nice work on it too!

[nanaglen2001]

@Lady Hobbs

To make things worse...In my area we have the perfect Rainbow water:19: thumbs2:

[Coler]

try re-arranging your tank decor...focuses the bully on re-establishing territory. depending on the size of the tank and the personality of the fish this may be a temporary solution.