New to the forum

[Roadrunner]

hello every one. im new to the forum and figured it would be a nice place to get some information on dwarfs. my first dwarf cichlid was the Bolivian ram and then i moved to kribs. i currently have P. Sacrimontis also known as the Scarlet krib. the pair was fine in a community set-up before and when i moved them to there new 75gallon home.
they were fine as well, but when i changed things around the male went berserk and attacks everything except my school of oto cats. if he did kill some, i cant be sure since they play in the plants. so for the safety of other fish i want to add im removing the pair.
im very fond of dwarf cichlids and was wondering if there was one tough enough to hold there own against a school of congo tetras. they are peaceful and full of personality, i love them to death. but they like to cause trouble and often pick on the kribs, oto's and each other. there quite comical.

for hiding places its mostly drift wood and plants with a few river rocks here and there.

anyways thanks for all advice and help!

Roadrunner

 

[ed seeley]

I've been keeping a pair of P.subocellatus 'Matadi' with Congo tetras and they've been fine. I'm surprised your sacrimontis had problems. I also used to keep Benitochromis with them and they are a bit bigger so maybe you could try one of them or Chromidotilapia species instead?

 

[Mud Pie Mama]

I'm w/ Ed in that I'm very surprised they are giving your other fish problems.

I have a school of the Congo tetras in my display 75g, a very well planted tank. I've had them almost three years now and I've rearranged the aquascape many times. When I do a complete change I'll often swap fish as well. I've had plenty of fish in w/ the Congos and NEVER seen them exhibit aggression w/ any other fish. They are always much too concerned w/ racing about and getting their turn w/ the female Congos . . . that and FOOD.

Besides other tetras.... Lemons, Neons, Diamonds. Rasboras. I've also had them rooming w/ Dicrossus filamentosus, Anomalochromis thomasi, Apistogramma agassizii, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. Also Angelfish at one point. Right now their in w/ a dozen Pelvicachromis taeniatus 'Moliwe' juveniles.

How mature are your Congos, and do you have several females to divide their energy? I also know they do have voracious appetites. They need to have full bellies to be happy and replace all the energy they spend spawning, (almost daily). Are you feeding them enough? IMHO, flake food just isn't enough for these turbo-chargers; they need good pellets.

PS. Welcome to the forum!:biggrin:

 

[Roadrunner]

my congo's are still young. but i already can see the more dominant males. its not so much there causing trouble its that they think the tank is one big game. I've seen a pair hid behind driftwood then swim out in front of the kribs, they wouldn't nip but just flutter. the kribs chased them away, they ran behind the driftwood and proceeded to do the same thing. it made me chuckle a bit. there not causing real harm just acting like little kids would. when i bought my congo's they were all about 2 inches. ive had them for a few months and i feed them flakes, frozen, and live. ill have to look into the dwarfs you mentioned, im surprised as well that my kribs have a little trouble with them.