mlinden84

I have a 55 gallon african cichlid tank (currently 8 in there right now, a mix of kinds). I'm worried about one of my yellow lab.s He is one of the original 5 that I got. He was a brilliant yellow and had a nice plump body. That was about 2 months ago. All the others have grown a lot, but he/she hasnt. It's about 2-2 1/2 inches long. The others in the tank range from 3 inches to 1 inch (the newer ones). Nobody picks on him too much (they all like to chase each other once in awhile). He has gotten really skinny, and a dull yellow color (very pale). He (not sure if he is but i'll call him that) usually manages to get one hikari cichlid pellet during feeding times. My question is, should I move him into a different take so he can get some weight back on? I was thinking of putting him in my 10 gallon "hospital" tank for awhile so he can get a little healthier. I'd hate to loose him! I have some extra limestone rocks that I can put in the 10 gallon tank so he feels safe/at home.
Should I move him or should I just leave him in the 55 gallon and see what happens?
I tried to take some pictures but my crappy digital camera doesnt want to work right now.

-Michelle-

Allie

I would put him in another tank just in case he may be sick. Look up the different types of fish disease to see if he has any of the symptoms.
Here's a site that is strictly Malawi Africans cichlids
http://www.malawimayhem.com/

mlinden84

Nothing jumps out as being wrong with him on that site... Really I think he's just being bullied and isn't getting enough food. I've been trying to catch him, but he keeps hiding. So it looks like I'll have to take out all the rocks and get him...
Thanks for replying!

Allie

Rearranging your tank once in awhile with africans helps with the aggression their territories get broken up...I would take him out for a bit so he can eat something to get stronger to take on the others....I also recommend getting a few more fish...the more africans in the tank the aggression is spread out among more fish other a few getting bullied. I had 38 fish in an 80g...I have learned it's best to stick with at least 3 fish of each species...1 male to 2 females or more.
With your tank I had 20 fish...they got along great.

mlinden84

I'm in the process of getting more... I just dont want to add them all at once. I got 5 in mid july, and 3 more 2 weeks ago. In a few more weeks I was planning on getting 4 or so more. I have re-arranged the rocks several times (both when i got the new fish and sometimes just when I did a water change. I did a lot of reading on them so i know most of what they need (at least i hope i do!!) I also will have 2 or 3 of each kind of fish by the time I am done stocking the tank.
I think I will be moving the fish tonight. Looks like i'll have to take all the rocks out to catch the little bugger! I have my extra 10 gallon cycled, and i put some limestone rock in there so its almost like the other tank (only smaller). Will he be ok by himeself or should i put another one of the cichlids in there with him? Hopefully this will work and he'll put some weight back on.
Thanks for your help!!

Allie

He should be ok alone

mlinden84

Well I just got done dismantling the tank in order to catch the fish. Got him in the 10 gallon tank, hes hiding under the rocks but I think he's going to do better in this tank. At least he'll get more than a bite of food and have nobody to harrass him. Hopefully this works!

Allie

Good luck!

capekate

Hi Mlinden84,
I don't know if this will be of any help, but I have done some research on the cichlid behavior, as I would like to eventually turn my 29g into a small cichlid tank. I was very interested to read about the differences between the South American cichlids and African cichilds. I read that they do not normally do well together ( tho there are always exceptions to that). The reason being was stated that between the two species their body language and behavioral signals are different from each other and that it can confuse them at most. That is why some find more aggression in the tank when they mix the two up together then when they are kept in specific groups either the SA cichlid or the African cichild. Now since I do not have any cichlids I have nothing to base this information on other than it came from a reputable cichlid only site.
I personally love the yellow lab.. and would love to have a few of them in my future cichlid tank. Good luck with your little guy... I hope he does well and heals in that 10g tank.
~ kate

Allie

Yellow labs are not as aggressive as say zebras, afras, peacocks...from my experience the biggest fish was always the bully in my old tank.

mlinden84

They are all African cichlids. They are of course more aggressive than say my guppies, but they arent too bad (yet?) I've given them plenty of hiding spaces and for the most part they all get along. They just all seemed to pick on this little guy (whenever he came near they'd chase him, so he'd swim somewhere else and another one would chase him). But they don't bother my other yellow lab, which is about an inch smaller than the one I moved.
The fish I have in the tank are:
1 yellow lab
1 red zebra
2 Socolofi
2 electric blue johanni (beautiful by the way!)
1 electrica something (cant remember, its rust colored/blue)

According to all the sites I looked at before buying them (I had a month to research while my tank cycled) said they will be ok together.



I'm sad to say my little guy isn't looking too good. He's just so skinny. I hope he will start eating more soon and gain some weight. He still has energy to swim around, which is good.

Allie

Electric blue johanni are very aggressive compared to the others in your tank...keep an eye on those beauties.

mlinden84

Really? I got one in the original 5 I got, then I got another 3 weeks ago. They seem to be the most peaceful of all of them... never chasing anyone. But I'll be sure to keep an eye on them. Thanks for the tip!