Agressive Cichlid. Please Help!

[xuxu]

I have a one male and one female Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids. Also in my 180 l tank, I have 7 cardinals, 4 corys, 3 gouramis, 2 other cichlids (Latecara dorsiger), 1 acanthius adonis and two botias. The male of dwarf cichlid started to be agressive towards other fish (especially corys, cichlid and gouramis). Female dwarf cichlid is also a bit agressive. They don't seem to be in mating season (the female did not become yellow). Now all other fish seems very stressed. In fact even cardinals are starting to be agressive towards each other. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to take drastic measures, but I will have no option but eutonasia the cichlid if it continues like this!!!!!!

 

[papa-loach]

well cokcatoo's can be rather nasty, think of them as an oscar, minus the googley eyes. im not too sure as to what kind of things they like to dwell in, but if they have that it should keep the attacks to a minimum. even if their not breeding they will hold their own space religiously. other then their domocile, large plants u must obviously have, giving the cokatoos the upper hand as most of your fish are top dwellers, chasing them through the plants wouldnt be too difficult. other then taking the cichlids out all togethor u might try getting a third odd cichlid, not a cichlid in anyway similar to the cockatoos. this might pose a threat to them, as to keep their minds off of the slower, more appetizing fish, and concentrate their attention on the new, interesting cichlid.

ok so i re-read your post, what other cichlids do u have, and what are the sizes of all your fish, also how would u describe the way your tank looks, maybe a picture?

 

[xuxu]

I guess they are protecting their territory, but the problem is it is half of the tank (although it is a large tank!). Should I worry about them harassing the other fish, is it dangerous to other fish other than getting stressed. Can they physically harm?

the other ciclid couple (I think Latecara dorsiger) are almost double size of the agressive one. Sorry no pic at the moment but I will do tomorrow

 

[papa-loach]

well as far as harm, it is a possibility, in my 29gal i have three large cichlids, about 3-4 inches, and they still pick on my 10 in dojo loach, but he just regenerates his fins and doesnt seem to mind, also hes becomd more reclusive during the day. as far as your tank tho, if they are cave dwellers, try an centralize their possible choices. maybe only having one loarge cave for them to dwell in, then maybe the other fish in the tank will understand that this new cave is the cockatoos alone, and to be swam above and not infront of..

 

[xuxu]

I put half coconut skin (treated) upside down and made an entrance for them, but they don't seem to like it!!

 

[-germ-]

Surely you could find a new home for the fish rather than killing it?
Local FPS?
Buy/sell/swap section?
Even a new tank!!!

Methinks thats a bloodthirsty reaction!

No wonder its a bit mental!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

they need 1 cave for each cockatoo, given appropriate hiding places and cover in the form of plants etc they shouldn't be too aggressive. I think maybe they don't like they're environment so are lashing out.

Completely re-decorate the tank, move everything round and define lots of different areas in the tank with different types of decor, make sure the bit with the caves for the cockatoo's has loads of plants and cover for them. You really want a relativley full tank in terms of plants and decor. This should calm things down for the next couple of days as they're territories will be gone, then when they form they're new ones if the areas have been well defined they should stick to a much smaller space.

they should also be kept at a ratio of 1m/2f which could be causing problems (although i would suspect more for the female than the male) so look to get another female so the one you have doesn't end up getting stressed by the male

 

[Gatorbait]

I've never had Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids so my advice may be off base and it looks like others have you headed in the right direction better than I can. However, with aggressive fish that I have a problem with, I lower my temp a few degrees and it usually helps. I have mine at 82 on average anyways so it won't hurt as long as yours isn't towards the cool end already. What's your temp?

Like Miss Wiggle mentioned, the more plants the better. The other fish will be able to escape through the leaves quicker which makes the aggressive attacks on them more short-lived. Soon the attacks should amount to bluff attacks since they know they can't catch them and don't try as hard.

Like I said, this is based upon other aggressive cichlids and I'm hoping it would apply to Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids, also.

 

[cheesy feet]

. other then taking the cichlids out all togethor u might try getting a third odd cichlid, not a cichlid in anyway similar to the cockatoos. this might pose a threat to them, as to keep their minds off of the slower, more appetizing fish, and concentrate their attention on the new, interesting cichlid.

I wouldn't do this first of it will add to the problems IMO...some reasons;
Stocking,you tank is already full stocked,filling this with another cichlid may mean you will need ot do more WC and buy a better filter.
Fighting,so you've bought this new fish to divert aggresion,if it's just as tough as the Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids then whats stopping it from attacking them or the other fish.Even if this doesn't happen other fish/cichlids may pick on this new fish,as he ahsn't got another tank he won't be able to remove it so it will probably die of stress or just being eaten.

Just thought that was a bit silly.

 

[Winston Smith]

well cokcatoo's can be rather nasty, think of them as an oscar, minus the googley eyes. im not too sure as to what kind of things they like to dwell in, but if they have that it should keep the attacks to a minimum. even if their not breeding they will hold their own space religiously. other then their domocile, large plants u must obviously have, giving the cokatoos the upper hand as most of your fish are top dwellers, chasing them through the plants wouldnt be too difficult. other then taking the cichlids out all togethor u might try getting a third odd cichlid, not a cichlid in anyway similar to the cockatoos. this might pose a threat to them, as to keep their minds off of the slower, more appetizing fish, and concentrate their attention on the new, interesting cichlid.

I think you are unfairly maligning Oscars as being aggressive. Oscars are not aggressive just predatory. They will eat anything that fits into thier very large mouth. In fact, Oscars when compared to other New World Cichlids such as Jack Dempseys, Green Terrors, Red Devils, and even Convicts are positively laid back. I would be rather hesitant to keep an Oscar with any other Cichlid, aside from a Severum, because they are such mild tempered fish. Of course, as with all other Cichlids, Oscars when mating become extremely aggressive and would be dangerous to keep with any other fish you may have in your tank.