Well, I don't know if it's preferred to leave fish to "figure things out" on their own, or to intervene. I chose the later. As mentioned in another thread, I added, over the course of a week, a Blue johanni, a yellow-tailed acei and two Yellow labs. The dominant lab was relentless on the subdominant to a point where he stayed vertical behind the in-tank filter and corner glass. His tail had been pretty nipped up, too. (I'll have to watch closely for fin rot and/or fungus).
Since I'm not used to all the "Malawi Mayhem" (with apologies to the website), I had mercy and removed the beaten male to my fry/quarantine tank. Not sure what to do at this point other than to add more fish. I had actually gone to my
LFS today for just that, but he advised against it. He recommended that I let it stabilize for about a week. I agree and I don't want to crash the cycle.
(He also scolded me for putting two males of the same species against his recommentdation. Said even labs will be intolerant of competing males. He had warned me, but you know newbies...)
So, what now? Leave Mr. Wimp in the fry tank indefinitely? Put him back in the African tank after the population builds up? If he's the only other lab, will more fish even make a difference or will the dominant male still single him out?
Oh. And by the way, the Blue Johanni is also starting to assert himself. Luckily, the targets don't seem intimidated to the point the yellow did.
Sheesh. What a zoo. (I'm lovin' it!)
Similar Aquarium Fish Forum Threads 
