Honduran Red Point

[Ill Will]

Hello, I have 5 Honduran Red Points, 1 juvenile Oscar and 1 juvenile O'opu Nakea in a 35 gallon. 2 of the HRP's paired off and are chasing the other 3, the Oscar and O'opu away from the filter they've claimed until they're all in the corners of the tank. No ones really even allowed in front of the filter either. The two that paired off don't chase each other though, they do chase others together the, usually the Oscar because he does'nt back down. I have the Oscar and O'opu in there with them because I read that suitable tank mates are equally aggressive fish but of bigger size to stand up against the HRP's bullying. Anyway if anyone has any experience with these guys any info would be useful. Thanks in advance.

[mommy1]

they may be suitable tank mates but they aren't in a suitable tank. how big are all these fish? the oscar and o'opu can reach 14 inches apiece, and at an adult size of 5inches i'm not sure 35 gallons is big enough for 5 hondurans alone either. i would think that a tank of 100+ gallons is what you really need to help curb that aggression.

[Ill Will]

Well they are all still juveniles, the Oscar is barely 3 inches, the biggest HRP is 2 inches while the rest are 1 inch - 1 1/2 inches, and the O'opu is 3 inches. Though last night I removed 2 of the HRP's being chased away by the pair due to an outbreak of Ich I noticed on the 2. Since the time I first posted this thread I got a 6th HRP from a friend who owns a local fish store. Someone brought the lone 4 inch female HRP in along with some other cichlids for a trade in. When I introduced the 4 inch female she dominated the tank and the pair split up but I removed her and they since repaired. The 2 sick HRP's are now outside in a different 35 gal with a few crappy 1 inch Tilapia, and the 4 inch HRP is in the other 35 outside with the nicer Tilapia that are 2-3 inches and a 5-6 inch Convict. The HRP and Convict each have a flowerpot they stay in and don't seem to mess with each other. The pair of HRP's are showing their mating colors but don't seem to be as territorial, the male is chasing off the oddball HRP periodically but they'll also all swim around together like a school with the Oscar.

[Northernguy]

You are not properly set up to keep fish like this.
Get some larger tanks and you will have less aggression.