Mbuna Getting Bullied By Others

Hello, I have a 29 gal planted tank with 4 mbuna cichlid. They all eat well, and 3 out of the 4 are around the same size. Go figure that the smallest is getting beat up, a lot. Unfortunately I have lost 2 cichlids already 1 was sick and refused to eat, so he starved, and second one I know was bullied and I believe he was bullied so much he did not come out of his hideout to eat. I am afraid this is going to happen again! I am well aware that cichlid are aggressive fish but is there anything I can do to try help him. The fish getting beat up is obviously the most timid, and the others have chewed most his tail off so it is kind of just a stubby tail. He always hides behind the filter. Is there anything I can do?
Thanks!

 

first off your tank is to small 40 gal or more you need to over stock when it comes to mbuna not a lot you can do in a tank that size

 

The tank is far too small to keep any mbuna in long term. 40gal minimum and they need to be over stocked/crowded to spread aggression. About 15 mbuna in a 40gal is a good number.

You need to move the fish to a larger tank are rehome them to someone who can care for them properly. For the time being, you can redecorate the tank with lots of rocks (they love rock piles) or remove the bullied fish until you can work something out long term.

I ended up re-homing the majority of my original mbuna as they were bullying the peacocks and other malawI cichlids in my 55gal. Africans can be a hit and miss. You should always be prepared to remove any overly aggressive or weak individuals.

 

mbuna the most aggressive they don,t mix well with any fish even peacocks get rid of them until you get a bigger tank

 

I am aware that mbuna are very aggressive but I have les than half in if 15 in my 29 gallon so that is fine and my trusted LFS told me that amount would be perfect. So I'm thinking it's just cichlids being cichlids

 

In order for your set up to work??? (maybe) you would have to put 8 fish in the tank and lots of rocks. Like everybody has said, it's not a good idea.

 

Yes you can keep mbuna in small tanks and they may live. Doesn't mean it's a good idea.

A tank that size 1 fish will claim the entire thing. Makes for less outs and escapes. Mine chase fish across my 90. Once the bully weakens a fish its game on for the rest.

Either a bigger tank or taking all the fish out all the Decore out about every 10 days for a couple hours then adding back in at once. That may restart the structure.

 

It's funny I call the chasing the 5 foot rule because they never seem to chase more than 5 feet.

 

Ok I am definitely going to try to get at least one more fish hopefully two, and I have one rock structure with two separated hideouts, and plants all over and a driftwood cave

 

I am aware that mbuna are very aggressive but I have les than half in if 15 in my 29 gallon so that is fine and my trusted LFS told me that amount would be perfect. So I'm thinking it's just cichlids being cichlids

You didn't seem to catch the part were mbuna need to be crowded. I keep 20 or so in a 55gal tank. If I decided to take out half the fish I just know that problem will arise as one dominant male will easily be able to target an individual. Crowded tanks allow for a bullied fish to easily get "lost" among the other fish, making it harder for the bully to get to it.

Also, plants and mbuna don't usually last long together. I've tried it and even the toughest anubias became shredded. They are vegetarians and love their greens. Once they start maturing and begin to dig any rooted plants will very well be seen floating around.

Another thing to throw out there, mbuna means "rock dweller" meaning that in their natural habitat they live among piles of rocks. If you plan to keep the same sized tank, I highly recommend adding a pile of rocks on either end of the tank as a pile of large rocks will offer far more crevices for a bullied fish to hide among.

Lastly, I understand that you have great respect for you LFS and so do I, but I will and have corrected mine about certain things concerning fish. It goes to show that doing your own research on the fish you plan to keep is often better than just winging it and taking any advice given. Heaven knows the trouble I would be in if I listened to some of my LFS's advice.

 

Ok I will add another rock pile and a cichlid stone. Would you guys say 2 more fish is good?

 

Depends on the species of the fish you already have and the ones you plan to get. Also, their genders play a role in aggression as well. If you have/get all males then things (in theory) should be fine. If you have fewer females than males then there is a high chance of the females getting bullied to death by the males when they want to spawn.

What species do you have right now? I would seriously think of getting a larger tank before you get more fish.

 

Mbuna is the species

 

Mbuna is not a species, it is a grouping of many species. Blue zebras, yellow labs, kenyi, elongatus, etc. are species but they are also mbuna.

Please post a few pictures of the fish you already have so we can identify the species and then recommend others that will go well with them.