MissMTS

In my african cichlid tank I have a sunshine peacock who is the dominant fish in the tank. He chases everyone around, especially my red shoulder peacock. Now my red shoulder usually hides in the back of the tank by the filter, and he has also tried to jump out of the water when being chased. My Sunshine peacock has never injured any of the other fish or gotten into fights. My question is, at what point do you decide that a fish is to much of a bully and take him back to the LFS? Honestly, Sunshine is my most attractive fish and he cost $40 so I don't really want to part with him. I could re-arrange the tank, but with the large decorations I have, there really aren't to many options. I am really worried about my red shoulder peacock. What should I do?

susitna-flower

Looks like you are much more expert in this area than I am, but just as a passing observer, it looks like you would benefit from a larger tank. If you had a 75 with many large rock caves, not large caves but big rocks that broke up the space, your fish may not feel so crowded, and get along better. Just an idea.

It looks to me like you are at the top stocking limits for this tank, and any time this happens there can be more agression than there otherwise would be.

MissMTS

Actually, having cichlid tanks slightly over-stocked helps to disperse the aggression equally among all of the fish so that one fish is not getting singled out by all of the others. Chasing and minor squables are normal between African Cichlids, but if you get one that is especially mean, he may need to be taken back to the store. Stocking kind of happens by trial and error until you get it right. I would love a larger tank, but have no room for one right now. All I wanted to know is whether I am at the point where I need to return my sunshine peacock, or if I should wait it out.

capekate

good morning Newbeefishlover..
I usually watch the aggression for injuries or prolonged stress. In those cases, I would immediatly look for another tank for the aggressor. If that is not an option, then I would take it back and hope for a refund or an exchange of fish. I find that the whole tanks health is not worth the aggression of one fish IMO.
As far as what was suggested about the larger tank, your tank may very well be over stocked and can accelerate the aggression. As far as maybe making more hiding spaces available for the stressed fish to be able to hide in may be an option if getting another tank is not.
Good luck with your fish and tank!

~ kate

Allie

We've always had problems with our male peacocks. We had to give up 3 male and all our females. For some reasons peacocks males are mean. Do you have females for them? It may make him go either way tho...more aggressive or less. In my opinion...the peacock meany should go or get a bigger tank and more fish.

Narcicius

Hope the peacock settles down, if not I hope you get a refund, Good luck.

MissMTS

We don't have any female peacocks because we are trying to do an all male tank. I know that male cichlids can be a pain in the you know what, making it more difficult. Our other male peacocks are really mellow. I would say our second in line as far as dominance goes is the Red Finned Borleyi. I think I may try to exchange my sunshine peacock and add some more hiding places to my tank.

angelfish220

it stinks that your tank arrangement didnt work out

steveangela1

the only solution w/ our aggression issues w/ our african cichlids was to get the one out they were bulling (we are getting a new tank for it much larger and will add some equally agressive fish w/ it).... Moveing the rocks around in our tank helped, we have to everytime we vaccum so it takes their "territories" away.