Keyholes Getting Broody And Aggressive

[silverchild23]

Hi all

I have a 240l Juwel Rio planted tank with the following:

- 2 Large Angels
- 4 Keyholes
- 1 Bristlenose Pleco
- 1 Blue Ram
- 7 Rummynose Tetra
- 4 Cardinal Tetra

The keyholes have started getting particularly broody, and I think they've all reached sexual maturity. There's 1 female and 3 males. The females being a bit 'flirty' and although there's one male who's clearly the dominant one that she favours, the males are squabbling lots recently.

There's no real damage (although one always seems to come off worst) but it's getting quite aggressive in the tank and I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to alleviate it?

Should I perhaps get another female to rectify the balance? (Mind you it's near impossible to sex when they're small and new from LFS). Or should I just leave the tank to move its course?

There's plenty of areas in the tank to hide etc. including a large slate cave, synthetic bogwood construct and loose rocks.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Ta!

 

[dthoffsett]

You might post in New World Cichlids for better information. However, generally speaking with cichlids, it's never a good idea to have more males than females. These are pairing fish, and while breeding can become aggressive though not to the extent of some other cichlids.

 

[silverchild23]

You might post in New World Cichlids for better information. However, generally speaking with cichlids, it's never a good idea to have more males than females. These are pairing fish, and while breeding can become aggressive though not to the extent of some other cichlids.

Ok, thank you.

If I wanted to go about getting maybe 1 or 2 new female keyholes, how could I tell what sex they were if I went to an LFS - because it seems near impossible until they reach maturity and the males are much bigger than the females?

 

[Brichardi]

You might post in New World Cichlids for better information. However, generally speaking with cichlids, it's never a good idea to have more males than females. These are pairing fish, and while breeding can become aggressive though not to the extent of some other cichlids.

Ok, thank you.

If I wanted to go about getting maybe 1 or 2 new female keyholes, how could I tell what sex they were if I went to an LFS - because it seems near impossible until they reach maturity and the males are much bigger than the females?

If your struggling to getmore females you could try this company they will sex them for you .
http/www.trimar.co.uk/