My Dempsey Killed My Snake Head :'-(

[onidrase]

Tank is way too small for all the species involved. The fish you mentioned which you didn't know the species of is a jag or wolf of sorts if you ask me, and these guys get monstrous and enjoy mutilating anything they can get their jaws on, and they can get their jaws on anything. If you're looking for a fish nastier than your dempsey, you already have it. in a 120L tank, you should be limited 1-2 cichlids that grow to be 5-6 inches, not 5 cichlids that grow to be a foot long, regardless on if you plan to upgrade.

Don't just get a bigger meaner fish that you can't accommodate to kill or bully your dempsey, cause then it's gonna kill or bully all your other fish too. It probably isn't even too nasty of a fish, any cichlids can get nasty if there isn't enough territory to claim.

 

[dbanner]

Hi, yes im in the uk, south wales.

A 120 litre is sooo small for a Dempsey never mind having it with other cichlids.

A dovii is said to be THE most agressive cichlid there is. Especially if it's a male as these get twice the size of a female. So around the 20 inch mark. They will let nothing stand in their way. Iv had 2 jaguar cichlids before. 1 was only a baby but iv had 1 at around 8-9 inch and wasn't as agressive as my 5 inch dovii.

Im by NO way saying for you to get a dovii (also known as a wolf cichlid) or a jaguar. Like i said id rehome the dempsey. I have a 5 foot 450 litre tank and felt it wasn't big enough for the jag alone, I once had a male and female Dempsey, a red devil, a Texas and a small plec and it seemed crowded. I'm know on the lookout for a 6 foot or bigger (600 litre+)

 

[dbanner]

I just seen the pic of your fish and looking at it (especially the eye colour) and it looks very much like a member of the parachromis family. I'd say it looks more like a jaguar than a dovii. Either way it's going to outgrow your tank very quickly and will more than likely kill all your other fish when it gets bigger in such a small space.

 

[micropeltes]

Tank is way too small for all the species involved. The fish you mentioned which you didn't know the species of is a jag or wolf of sorts if you ask me, and these guys get monstrous and enjoy mutilating anything they can get their jaws on, and they can get their jaws on anything. If you're looking for a fish nastier than your dempsey, you already have it. in a 120L tank, you should be limited 1-2 cichlids that grow to be 5-6 inches, not 5 cichlids that grow to be a foot long, regardless on if you plan to upgrade.

Don't just get a bigger meaner fish that you can't accommodate to kill or bully your dempsey, cause then it's gonna kill or bully all your other fish too. It probably isn't even too nasty of a fish, any cichlids can get nasty if there isn't enough territory to claim.

ok thanks for the advice. i'll pop the dempsey in my cousins tank cos his one is really big. once i buy a large one.. i'll bring him back. but that wolf cichlid.... its cannibal.. funny thing is.. the guy at the fish shop said... its a zulu warrior.. so we asked him wot he meant.... he told us... oh u'll find out soon lol..... i guess i did find out now lol

 

[micropeltes]

I just seen the pic of your fish and looking at it (especially the eye colour) and it looks very much like a member of the parachromis family. I'd say it looks more like a jaguar than a dovii. Either way it's going to outgrow your tank very quickly and will more than likely kill all your other fish when it gets bigger in such a small space.

hmm i got three suggestions so far, dovvi, wolf and jaguar...... all three are pretty aggressive cichlids. yeah im planning on buying a larger tank... its been on my to do list for ages...

 

[coldcazzie]

A dovii and a wolf cichlid are the same thing. A jaguar cichlid is the same family but a different species.

 

[dbanner]

A dovii and a wolf cichlid are the same thing. A jaguar cichlid is the same family but a different species.

Was just going to say that but you beat me to it lol

I just seen the pic of your fish and looking at it (especially the eye colour) and it looks very much like a member of the parachromis family. I'd say it looks more like a jaguar than a dovii. Either way it's going to outgrow your tank very quickly and will more than likely kill all your other fish when it gets bigger in such a small space.

hmm i got three suggestions so far, dovvi, wolf and jaguar...... all three are pretty aggressive cichlids. yeah im planning on buying a larger tank... its been on my to do list for ages...

If its a jaguar then you should be ok if you get a 6 foot tank. 6 foot long, 2 foot wide and 2 high. If its a dovii (wolf) and male then I'd recommend a tank that's 8 foot long but then you would be lucky if he will tolerate any other fish in with him

 

[Wills]

Please learn about your fish before you buy them. 120 liter tank is no where near big enough I know its been covered above but seriously you need to learn from your snakeheads death.

Also London has at least two really good shops you have Wholesale Tropicals in Bethnal Green and the Aquatic Design Center on Great Portland Street two great shops depending on where you are. There are probably more but those are the ones who reputations extend to Yorkshire lol

Your post saying you have suggestions of other fish please just forget it - look on Aquarist Classifieds or Ebay for a large tank you like large fish they need a large tank and then at that point you might be able to get more fish but for now forget it. When I say large I mean in the 6 foot region 4 foot does not count as large for the fish you have and want.

The fish in your photo is a young Jaguar Cichlid, I am not surprised they went after your other fish they are predators and though smaller than the Dovvi they are not necessarily much better behaved.

Wills

 

[josh_g]

Jaguar is the meanest fish I have ever kept I used to have one in with my 2 oscars and a trimac back in the day and I have a video somewhere of the jag taking on the 2 oscars without any trouble. They couldn't even defend themselves because when they opened there mouths to fight back the jag would bite the inside of there mouths and start to pull there heads off. He didn't start to show any real aggression until he reached the 6/7" mark. But as soon as he turned mean there was no turning back. Shame though because fully grown they are stunning looking fish. But as Wills stated above research your fish before you buy them this is a must! And the guy down your LFS sounds like a right ahole!

 

[prankster705]

In before close. Must be trolling. I hope.

Dovii will dominate.

 

[ian]

and closed.

 

[ZoddyZod]

thread reopened at the OPs request - flaming posts removed

let's keep this one civil and try to help the OP.

 

[micropeltes]

Please learn about your fish before you buy them. 120 liter tank is no where near big enough I know its been covered above but seriously you need to learn from your snakeheads death.

Also London has at least two really good shops you have Wholesale Tropicals in Bethnal Green and the Aquatic Design Center on Great Portland Street two great shops depending on where you are. There are probably more but those are the ones who reputations extend to Yorkshire lol

Your post saying you have suggestions of other fish please just forget it - look on Aquarist Classifieds or Ebay for a large tank you like large fish they need a large tank and then at that point you might be able to get more fish but for now forget it. When I say large I mean in the 6 foot region 4 foot does not count as large for the fish you have and want.

The fish in your photo is a young Jaguar Cichlid, I am not surprised they went after your other fish they are predators and though smaller than the Dovvi they are not necessarily much better behaved.

Wills

i live near the bethnal green one lol.... them guys are legends.... sometimes i spend ages in the store just staring at the fishes or just listening to the guys dissing each other. yeah its time for an upgrade.... u see money and space was an issue for me and at the same time the the passion to own fishes with character... i guess i paid a price cos my snakehead was really small when i first got it... took me a good 5-6 months to grow it to a good size and learn it to eat dead food...... all that effort wasted... feel frustrated. hate dempseys!

 

[micropeltes]

Jaguar is the meanest fish I have ever kept I used to have one in with my 2 oscars and a trimac back in the day and I have a video somewhere of the jag taking on the 2 oscars without any trouble. They couldn't even defend themselves because when they opened there mouths to fight back the jag would bite the inside of there mouths and start to pull there heads off. He didn't start to show any real aggression until he reached the 6/7" mark. But as soon as he turned mean there was no turning back. Shame though because fully grown they are stunning looking fish. But as Wills stated above research your fish before you buy them this is a must! And the guy down your LFS sounds like a right ahole!

the guy down my LFS is a legend lol.... trust me them guys are the coolest people around. the story was that my little nephew (whos 19)... his a huge fish fanatic and knows more than me.... he went over and bought a dempsey, the so called zulu warrior as described by the LFS guys aka jaguar and a bunch of other cichlids including an albino oscar... and he bought all this for just £25........... the guy told him "if you want a mean fish then its the zulu warrior"..... to be honest i thought he was nuts cos it looked harmless.... but oh boy was the guy right.... lol it took out most of my fishes... i removed the community fishes and took them to my cousins tank and only kept the cichlids snakehead and tinfoil in there.

time for a change. u know i might even sell the cichlids n buy a bunch of them finger nibbling fishes cos they have great character too... hmm

 

[star4]

If you like cichlids there are plenty of smaller (dwarf) species that would suit a 120l tank. I would say selling what you have and starting again is the best option. Keeping large aggressive cichlids is not a one tank job trust me! you have to be on your toes constantly changing the decor to distupt territories to keep the peace. Just because one person can keep certain cichlids together (I have a JD with a severum and true parrots, my JD is a wuss) does not apply to that species, each cichlid has its own character and agression levels. Oscars are ment to be mean, yet I have fostered/rescued some oscars that are so docile they would happily live with smaller fish, yet others would try and kill everything. There is no rule with cichlids other than have more than 1 tank to move any aggressor.

For 120l look at keyholes, krobia xingu, apistogramma (hundreds to choose from). Hope this helps