I got two African Cichlids from my boyfriend, who didn't take good care of them... (he rarely fed them and their bones were all sticking through).
At the time I didn't have enough room or another tank to set up so I put them with three large angelfish in a 55 gallon (I thought it would be a bad idea, but actually they never bothered the Angelfish cichlids.). The African Cichlids were fine with eachother for the longest time... until one day I came home and the smaller one was beat to hell. His fins were nearly gone and he was swimming in place in a corner... his normally purple vibrant coloring was all drained to a dull grey and he looked awful. So I divided the tank and separated them.
Occasionally they'd spot eachother and try to lip lock through the divider and a couple times one would get into the other side somehow.
I'd like to actually do something to my 55 gallon and I figured maybe the African cichlids would be okay with eachother in another tank if I put a ton of decorations in it... No.. I was wrong.
I put them both in a 15 gallon Tall and it's the same thing all over again.
I feel so bad, the same cichlid is hovering in a corner and the other one never leaves his side, constantly nipping at him.
I always wanted African Cichlids, and now I wish I never got them... the fish stores have so many, I'd hate to throw any more onto them. They ate all the plants in my 55 gallon...which was beautiful. I moved all the decorations (A LOT, LOL!!!) into this little 15G TALL aquarium... and it doesn't even help. They both swim in one corner at the top of the tank beating eachother up (well actually only one fights...).
What the heck is wrong with them?
Should I get another Cichlid to try and balance the fighting?
I would rather not get a bigger tank than the 15 Gallon... I'm pressed for space and they acted the same in the 55 gallon anyway.
BTW,
Their size difference is not much at all. The mean one is just FAT because he takes all the food.... and I know I feed them plenty. 2x a day, and quite a variety.
Bloodworms, Tubifex, Flakes... MY PLANTS.... I'd say I overfeed them.
Oh... I think an African cichlid killed my Pleco, also... is that normal? If so, what am I supposed to do for algae?
At the time I didn't have enough room or another tank to set up so I put them with three large angelfish in a 55 gallon (I thought it would be a bad idea, but actually they never bothered the Angelfish cichlids.). The African Cichlids were fine with eachother for the longest time... until one day I came home and the smaller one was beat to hell. His fins were nearly gone and he was swimming in place in a corner... his normally purple vibrant coloring was all drained to a dull grey and he looked awful. So I divided the tank and separated them.
Occasionally they'd spot eachother and try to lip lock through the divider and a couple times one would get into the other side somehow.
I'd like to actually do something to my 55 gallon and I figured maybe the African cichlids would be okay with eachother in another tank if I put a ton of decorations in it... No.. I was wrong.
I put them both in a 15 gallon Tall and it's the same thing all over again.
I feel so bad, the same cichlid is hovering in a corner and the other one never leaves his side, constantly nipping at him.
I always wanted African Cichlids, and now I wish I never got them... the fish stores have so many, I'd hate to throw any more onto them. They ate all the plants in my 55 gallon...which was beautiful. I moved all the decorations (A LOT, LOL!!!) into this little 15G TALL aquarium... and it doesn't even help. They both swim in one corner at the top of the tank beating eachother up (well actually only one fights...).
What the heck is wrong with them?
Should I get another Cichlid to try and balance the fighting?
I would rather not get a bigger tank than the 15 Gallon... I'm pressed for space and they acted the same in the 55 gallon anyway.
BTW,
Their size difference is not much at all. The mean one is just FAT because he takes all the food.... and I know I feed them plenty. 2x a day, and quite a variety.
Bloodworms, Tubifex, Flakes... MY PLANTS.... I'd say I overfeed them.
Oh... I think an African cichlid killed my Pleco, also... is that normal? If so, what am I supposed to do for algae?