I think my EBJD needs relocating

Alright so my EBJD is about an 1" 1/2 and in the last month he started acting strange; he hangs around in the corner of the tank hiding behind the intake pipe all day and night only coming out to eat. He had popeye but he's been treated and that seems to have gone away. The other cichlids in the tank are growing a lot faster than him and are generally more boisterous than him so I think that's why he's hiding all day, which can't be good for him. So I was thinking about relocating him until he gets bigger and more confident. I have 3 options;

Option 1:
Put him in my community tank. 160 litres with;
- cardinal tetras
- guppies
- corydoras
- honey gourami
- Bolivian ram
- clown, bristlenose and blue phantom plecos.

The ram was very aggressive towards my tapajos when I had him so I might have to put the ram in the cichlid tank if he is aggressive towards Little Blue

Option 2:
Move Prince out of his 12 gallon into a 5 gallon and give Little Blue the 12 gallon to himself.

Option 3:
Leave him where he is and hope the stress does not make him ill or kill him

What do we think the best course of action is?

 

Alright so my EBJD is about an 1" 1/2 and in the last month he started acting strange; he hangs around in the corner of the tank hiding behind the intake pipe all day and night only coming out to eat. He had popeye but he's been treated and that seems to have gone away. The other cichlids in the tank are growing a lot faster than him and are generally more boisterous than him so I think that's why he's hiding all day, which can't be good for him. So I was thinking about relocating him until he gets bigger and more confident. I have 3 options;

Option 1:
Put him in my community tank. 160 litres with;
- cardinal tetras
- guppies
- corydoras
- honey gourami
- Bolivian ram
- clown, bristlenose and blue phantom plecos.

The ram was very aggressive towards my tapajos when I had him so I might have to put the ram in the cichlid tank if he is aggressive towards Little Blue

Option 2:
Move Prince out of his 12 gallon into a 5 gallon and give Little Blue the 12 gallon to himself.

Option 3:
Leave him where he is and hope the stress does not make him ill or kill him

What do we think the best course of action is?

The community tank will probably set you up for the most success as it with the other activity it would probably make him feel the most at home. the 12 gallon could buy some time to but no guarantee this will make the fish feel at home and be less shy

The 29 comes with the most risk of collateral damage too once the Jack is too big or becomes aggressive. But the size/activity of the tank is ideal from grow out. But I think your assessment of the other cichlids size/activity causing stress is pretty likely.

 

The community tank will probably set you up for the most success as it with the other activity it would probably make him feel the most at home. the 12 gallon could buy some time to but no guarantee this will make the fish feel at home and be less shy

The 29 comes with the most risk of collateral damage too once the Jack is too big or becomes aggressive. But the size/activity of the tank is ideal from grow out. But I think your assessment of the other cichlids size/activity causing stress is pretty likely.

I was leaning more towards the community tank. I know there's a risk he will start picking off cardinals and/or guppies as he grows but its a risk im willing to take if means success with my EBJD as hes really my priority

 

I was leaning more towards the community tank. I know there's a risk he will start picking off cardinals and/or guppies as he grows but its a risk im willing to take if means success with my EBJD as hes really my priority

I think there will be some leeway between the fish being large enough and having the desire to eat smaller fish. I think you may see him being aggressive towards others before he’s big enough to eat the smaller fish.

like anything though every fish is different so just monitor carefully to ensure the most success!

 

Little Blue has been moved to the community tank ill post updates on his progress