Cichlids are cichlids are cichlids!

[ancientaquarist]

I hoped by trying die Zwergbuntbarsche I'd be avoiding major tank rearrangement (ha) and aggression. I've had 4 Bolivian rams, M. atipinosus for 5 mos. One is now eeeemormous-3.2 inches to peduncle and fat-I suspect a female. The smallest who has stayed flat to convex bellied is the worst bully in my 150 community. He attacks all apistos, he
attacks Laetacara curv and dors., he attacks my pair of Etroplus and even the one lone surviving discus.

He keeps expanding is territory and bit me yesterday when I was trying to
break up his territory by moving several plants. Is this typical behavior?
He's making me miserable. I might just as well have a Jack Dempsey.
And he's a little guy and he bites. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Like who can I put in there to give him his comeuppance or
must he go?

TIA.

 

[Neil]

ancientaquarist,

I think that your title says it all. In regards to housing densities and aggression levels, there are no fixed rules, just generalities. Sometimes you can get away with housing quite a few species in a particular tank and sometimes you can't house many at all. It is not as much a function of a particular species, as it is a particular individual or pair. Some fish just decide they don't want other cichlids around them (or most every other fish for that matter). When this happens, it is always easiest to remove the disease than to treat the injuries from it. Your B. ram has developed a personality and will likely continue to exert it. I would remove him and the biggest female to a species tank and let her deal with him.

Good luck,

Neil