Community Fish + Cichlids Getting Along!

[demasoni]

I had a community tanka few months ago, and I bought an eel a few months ago not knowing that he'd eat all the community fish, but one. That one fish is a blue gourami. Then I bought many many cichlids, totaling up to about 12 cichlids ( yellows, red germans, ect ). The cichlids have never tried to attack the blue gourami in my tank for some reason.
Any idea why?

 

[Ferris]

They are probably unsure about it at the moment, Gourami's reach a decent size which may deter the cichlids from aggressive behaviour.

Wait until they are adults though - i wouldn't give the Gourami much of a chance then.

 

[nukeonekitty]

They must not be mature yet, you just wait...

 

[demasoni]

They must not be mature yet, you just wait...

I have about 4 grown cichlids in the tank, they are about 4-5 inches each
the other cichlids in there ( mostly yellows ) are about 1.5 to 2.5 inches each


The blue gourami is about 1.5 inch


We'll see what happens!

 

[Ferris]

It's actually the reverse situation you have. Adult cichlids won't see a 1.5" Gourami as a threat but as the Gourami grows, there will invevitably be territory conflicts and the Gourami won't be able to stand up to Mbuna.

Just keep an eye on things for now but i would certainly start planning to re-home him/her.

 

[demasoni]

It's actually the reverse situation you have. Adult cichlids won't see a 1.5" Gourami as a threat but as the Gourami grows, there will invevitably be territory conflicts and the Gourami won't be able to stand up to Mbuna.

Just keep an eye on things for now but i would certainly start planning to re-home him/her.

Thx! I will do so along with my eel and bluegill

 

[valpofan98]

They must not be mature yet, you just wait...

When Cichlids are not mature, they are not as aggressive....when they mature, they become more aggressive?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

They must not be mature yet, you just wait...

When Cichlids are not mature, they are not as aggressive....when they mature, they become more aggressive?

most cichlids are aggressive as a result of sex horomones kicking in and saying "hey, that fish is in your territory; you better fight him before he eats your babies or steals all the good sexual partners"

so, yes. reaching sexual maturity generally results in more aggressive fish.

 

[valpofan98]

That makes sense...that explains why my three cichlids were fine as babies together and they when they matured...one of them ate the other two. =) Kirsten