Gold Ram fighting with new A. cacatuoides pair

[Jshafer81]

I've just purchsed a pair of A. cacatuoides for my 29 gallon community tank. The tank has angels, gourami, tetras anda pleco. The new pair seem to be getting along fine with these fish, but they immediatly started fighting/sparring with my golden ram. The ram now seems to have intimidated the pair and they are nipped at and swim away. I've tried rearranging the tank in several ways. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this incompatibility or has any suggestions on how I might remedy it without removing the ram.

thanks,
Justin

 

[Neil]

Jshafer81,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

It has less to do with the fact that it is a gold ram, specifically, than it does with the fact that it is another lower water-column type Cichlid. And the bottom of the tank is basically the established territory of the ram. The angels are not involved because they probably don't care too much. The new additions are not cramping their established area as much. That has potential to happen anytime new Cichlids are added to a tank with already established Cichlids.

My advice would be to remove the ram for a day or 2, rearrange the tank again and then reintroduce the ram. This will give the new fish time to gain a certain level of security with their new surroundings. However, it may be OK to just let it go. If there is no major damage to the cacs, things may settle down once the ram gets used to having them around.

Good luck,
Neil

 

[Jshafer81]

Ram vs A. cacatuoides

Thanks for the info,

I've changed the tank a few times and added some cave-like hiding spots and things seem to have calmed down some. The ram just chases other fish occasionally now and not as aggressively, so I don't think they're getting hurt.

thanks again,

Justin