how do i stop fish misbehaving

[darksheep]

hi i got 2 red zebras(both same size), 2 yellow electricsSame size as the red zebras), a blue acara (bigger then the red zebras for now) and 2 brittle noses (bout 5 cm long a pair ).

now my question is, one of the red zebras is a bossy of a fish he cases the other zebra all round and it ends up lying on top of my fitler gasping for air, he also chases my 2 other yellow electic around and has them in a corner not game to come out. he keeps trying to push the me big blue around(blue acara) but big blue still has a considerable size advantage and simply doesnt take it, and gives the zebra some of it own medicene back. he been doing this for nearly a week now and i just cant stop it unless im up near the tank and can put my hand in the water. i cant afford nother tank and cant find it a hime to go to what can i do any suggestions......

 

[aerofish]

Zebras are my favorite fish and they can get pretty bossy and territorial at times. I had two in a 5 gal along w/ 2 other fish and u can imagine the fights that ensued in that small space!!! But I usually found that that behavior goes away after a while. I've seen that behavior disappear and reappear quite a few times.
Another good idea may be to put in more zebras of the same size. I've heard that schooling fish like zebras get very territorial and aggressive if kept by themselves or in too small groups.
Your other option would be to move around the ornaments in the tank to establish more clear cut territories. This usually works if you move some major ornament like a big rock or piece of driftwood, or add some big ornament.

 

[fishdudein]

Hi darksheep! Actually, fish don't misbehave....they only do what fish are supposed to do. In any group of cichlids, there will be one dominant fish that will stake out the best territory and try to run the other competing fish away. If the tank is too small or overcrowded or doesn't have "cover" for the chased fish to take refuge in.... nobody's happy. I would suggest adding more rockwork to your tank, trying to make caves, using the rocks to separate "boundary" areas, making places where the other fish can get away from the pursuer(out of sight, out of mind). HTH!

 

[spottedbovine]

put it over your knee and give it what for lol

 

[darksheep]

its a 29 gallon tank, ive tryed moving the rocks and stuff around but everytime either one zebra bosses the whole tank or one bosses one corner and the other the other corner with all the other fish stuck in the middle.

Woulding adding more fish like tiger barbs sort them out, cause i no its mean but tiger barbs love nipping at tails if not keept in larger enough groups that and dont laugh ive got a back heater and filter and easkey should i set that up and put those zebras in there