Man these fish are different!

[Vaw121]

Hello from Michigan, my names Dennis and I've been keeping all kinds of fish for years but primarily African shellys. I messed up and didn't do enough reading before picking up a pair of A. cacatuoides "orange flash" and unfortunately the male is a prime brute and the female may have been a little younger. She didn't fare well so I am going to do some some more homework and try again. Gonna add a lot more "hides" and some dithers but is there anything else that might help?

 

[gerald]

Structure, dithers, space, and constant vigilance; be ready to intervene if aggression gets intense. A tank divider can be helpful too: it lets the pair get used to the sight and smell of each other, and allows each fish to temporarily claim half the tank as its own territory. When the less dominant fish is looking interested, pull out the divider (or make a door in it) when you have time to hang around and watch the tank for an hour or so.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[Mike Wise]

If the tank is large enough, I'd add 1 or 2 extra females to the mix; spread the male's attention.

 

[Vaw121]

The tank is a 40 breeder. I'm struggling trying to get plants at the moment that don't require co2. Also I'd like some dwarf pencil fish and those seem hard to come by

 

[gerald]

Struggling? Most of the common aquatic plant in pet shops don't need supplemental CO2: Most Cryptocoryne, Javafern, Vallisneria, Sagittaria, Chain-swords, Bacopa, Ludwigia, Najas, Frogbit, Watersprite, Rotala, etc. WetSpot tropical fish (online vendor in Oregon) has several pencilfish on their current list, if you cant find them locally.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

The tank is a 40 breeder. I'm struggling trying to get plants at the moment that don't require co2.

Have a look at ApistoBob's (Bob Wiltshire) pages on <"plants for Dwarf Cichlids">, the whole <"Aquarium Care"> section is very useful. http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/Aquarium_plants.php

I have Cryptocoryne spp., Anubias, Bolbitis heudelotii, Java Fern, Water sprite and Echindorus spp. in all of my tanks.
http://www.dwarfcichlid.com/Aquarium_plants.php
Also like @gerald says "Amazon Frogbit" (Limnobium laevigatum), and other floating plants, aren't CO2 limited, and are very suitable for Dwarf Cichlid tanks.

cheers Darrel