CICHLID AGGRESSION EXPERIMENT takes a BAD TURN [WARNING: NOT for the Squeamish] My UNCUT Results!

[@dhammaboy1203]

I’m glad you have tested this thesis Ben because I am convinced that having hiding spaces in my aquarium for my Peacocks & haps has saved lives a number of times!

[@Sharcc700]

I have the same problem with the same fish. I had to take him out of my tank and pit him in a 10 gallon alone

[@memeguyTM]

Very interesting. I've never kept cichlids so learned a lot about them with your videos.

[@BenOchart]

They are amazing but can also be a challenge when it comes to aggression.

[@memeguyTM]

@@BenOchart I've only kept othe community tropical fish. Not aggressive one's though.

[@TheOfficialSteelReign]

Fish aggression just sucks. Nice job being able to identify and pull the right fish. Sometimes it's hard to tell who's the aggressor in a tank that has that many fish. I had a situation where my male jaguar was was beating the tar out of the female. I had to pull her and give her her own 55 too (she's stillI little) and let her heal up.

[@THESESTORIESARETRUE]

👀🤷🏾‍♂️

[@BenOchart]

IFG in the house 😀👍🏻

[@jaymilo8425]

I'll never keep a dragon blood again the one I had killed my much larger starry night as well as a few other African chiclids I had

[@BenOchart]

Oh no, not the Starry Night. Love those fish. Yeah, DBs can be killers.

[@jaymilo8425]

@@BenOchart I have since got 2 new ones, Donny 2 and Donny 3

[@noyesphotography1979]

Nice experiment but I know from years of experience that I'm going to have a tank load of caves and hiding spots and overcrowding with all that combined it works out, not to say there isn't fighting, but usually the fighting breaks off on its own with all the hiding spots and all the other fish in the tank for distractions;

[@dhammaboy1203]

This is what I’ve found too! I’ve had Peacocks lives saved because I have hiding spaces. Yea they will sometimes claim territory but I think places to hide reduces stress overall.

[@jerrysfishroom3579]

Awesome experiment. Stinks on the dragon blood. My shows a little aggression but for the most part is kept in check

[@XCaliKev]

👍😎 Hey Ben. That is a video that someone who wants Africans that has never kept them should see, nice job. You should send it to Scott (King and Queen Chiclids) so that jerk that he’s not as tough as he thinks he is. A friend and I did something similar many years ago. Put a Pike that ate a small puffer (if I remember correctly) he was probably 2-3 inches into a tank with large Arrowana, Clown Knife & a Tiretrack Eel. It immediately went into the rocks. Was in there for a couple days. Kinda cruel I know but so was he. 🖖

[@Cichlid_4_ever]

That’s wild cause my dragon blood is super nice

[@BenOchart]

Yes, among hybrids there are exceptions. It can change suddenly if triggered.

[@Cichlid_4_ever]

@@BenOchart uh oh 😕 so something I need to be on the look out for ? Or is it easier when grown out as juveniles?

[@seansquill8773]

I’m with James on this one. My Dragon Blood was a fairly calm fish! He never bothered anyone, and if you tried to bother him he’d fight right back…same with my OB’s. However I did have my share of issues with anger like that dragon blood you have Ben….The fish that comes to mind from my crew of Africans was my Tetrastigma…absolutely drop dead beautiful fish, might be top 3 of nicest looking fish that I’ve ever had…got him at about 4 inches and he was fine for a while and once he put on that size he just became an absolute manic and no time out, nettings, or any of those tricks worked with this guy. Eventually had to bring him back to fish hut and part ways…sucks to come to that…but sometimes it’s the only thing to do🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Cichlid_4_ever]

@@seansquill8773 lol yea I’ve returned a many of those African cichlids. It sucks. Cause you try all these combos to try to make it work out and still there’s either deaths or returns. The struggles real and I’ve learned over the years it’s trial and error and there’s nothing than can be done you either have ones that get along or ones that don’t. Having no females is definitely helped with my African cichlids. My Central Americans on the other hand was like night and day. Haven’t had any trouble with those guys.

[@davec1294]

Yeah James I have actually have about 10 dragon bloods in different tankes and at least in my experience the are no more agressive than my other Africans.Actually my most agressive is my Red Empress.

[@papasmerf6453]

Just watching this stressed me out. I hate aggression in my tanks.

[@freddievara8117]

Sorry for my typos the other subject is over crowding them can work. Until the Electricity goes out or become complacent in maintenance and all hell breaks loose. Not all but some give up Africans why, there not kept properly but if it works for you fine. I brought these fish in from the wild over 50 years ago rock dwellers need hiding places any Public Aquariums will always keep these fish in a rocky habitat. Just my 2 cents 😎

[@Roland2307]

Your dragon blood could be my dragon bloods twin brother. Mines no where near as grumpy as yours. So much for the eureka red being a bad ass, lol. I had to put my eureka in the quarantine tank because he was getting beaten up in the 125. Apparently the eye biter is starting to act like an eye biter and attacking some of the other fish. You made that call a few months ago. I LOVE that fish so getting rid of him would be terrible. I’m seeing fin damage on my flame tail though and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that fish, you would agree that the flame tail is my most beautiful fish. So I just have to keep watching. It’s funny how someone with your level of experience is going through the same crap as someone with my level of experience, about five years. AC’s definitely keep you on your toes.

[@brianp6180]

African cichlids are crazy 😜! I have a dragon blood but luckily he is fairly peaceful. I have keep fish for 30 years but only had African cichlids for a few years. I did have 1 fish killed at night when I was asleep. Not sure who the murderer was. However now my tank seems to be balanced like yours. I have an OB peacock that is semi aggressive but he just chases fish out of his spot. He is a digger and has a hole behind a rock. I Also have a eureka red that will chase smaller fish but nothing to crazy. I guess it’s trial and error. Good experiment!

[@brettcoyle2399]

To me I don’t got time nor money to waste on fish that are killers lol I allow some chasing but when they start lip locking and hitting the side the aggressor gets pulled lol

[@webera]

I have a different problem. I have hap only tank. my zimbawe rock goes nuts when spawning. He pushes all the other fish to one side of the tank. Other he is a calm dude. I am thinking if I should get rid of the females to have a peaceful tank..

[@BenOchart]

Yes. That’s why do many AC tanks are all male.

[@joeprovenzano4362]

Ben what are the two substrates in the 210

[@BenOchart]

45% CaribSea crushed coral (white), 45% black CaribSea aragonite and 10% Imaginarium black sand from PetCo

[@joeprovenzano4362]

@@BenOchart Ty. I just unboxed 10 South Americans. Never before owned any. Most of which I’ve seen on sat mornings. My pea/hap tank is next. Still waiting for the other to cycle to transfer the others out

[@naegwut]

Very interesting!

[@Duclosxrp]

im thinking of adding a eye bitter in my 150....not sure i want to...because of it reputation....whats you take on eye bitter...

[@wabalaka1565]

Coin flip but the chance is like 1 in 4 Just like the Flowerhorn undeniably the most aggressive fish were breed to be aggressive still some are actually fine with smaller tank mate. Fish has individual personally it just some type of fish has move chance of being chill than the other. For the Flowerhorn nthe chance is like 1 in 50.

[@BenOchart]

I love eyebiters. I’ve been lucky and gotten a couple mellow ones. It’s that way with all African Cichlids, you roll the dice and hope you got one that doesn’t go nuts.

[@michealshelton2133]

Very interesting. There seems to be a "bully" trait in some cichlids. I'm thinking perhaps there is a social mechanism we don't understand that makes one fish feel he HAS to eliminate another fish. Perhaps a sort of developmental thing.

[@BenOchart]

Seems hard wired mostly in hybrids. Serial killer DNA

[@angelchavez7964]

@@BenOchart I've noticed that Obs and Dragonbloods are the most aggressive peacocks probably because they have Mbuna Genetics in them

[@elizabethwagner2190]

Mine just drives them in the corner and backs up and wham. I have the exact same problem rn.

[@PULAG]

He looks Flawless, but yeah he is relentless in attacking them. What a bruiser lol. The more hiding spots I've created is only thing that prevented my Jack Dempsey from clearing the rest of my flock.

[@vinceolshove1499]

It's a shame about the dragon blood. I thought he was one of, if not your prettiest looking fish. Maybe a couple weeks of "hell in a cell" breeder box will straighten him out. I hate to see you give up on him, but you have to do what you have to do. I like the idea of the decor you had, but you may be on to something. Another great video Ben.

[@alenaduplantier4505]

Poor bullied fish😰😰 I also experienced aggressive fish in the past but I isolate them on my spare tank iam so glad that you saved all the wounded fish from being killed

[@BenOchart]

After nursing then back to full health I’ll have to decide what to do with them.

[@lakemalawifishkeeping2599]

Ive notice that it's almost always the dragonblood that's out of there mind an have aggression issues

[@BenOchart]

Hybrids can be wack

[@seansquill8773]

Thanks Ben….you reminded me why I don’t keep Africans anymore🤣 I don’t like the idea of zero decor…I’ve done very light decor in the past, and just breaking the line Of sight worked quite well. As for the Dragon blood yes he needs to go unfortunately and be re homed. A jerk fish will always be a jerk fish from my experience. Out of all of them I’d re add the Livingstoni to the 210, he’s beautiful and like you said he didn’t really do any real damage to anyone… I’d give the big guy another shot!

[@bluecollarfox913]

I’ve always wondered if you took a male like this and let him breed with a female, would he calm down? Any thoughts on that theory?

[@elizabethwagner2190]

I've got a beautiful "electric blue"?.just like the first fish. And my orange ones are being jerks. I've followed this tank since the beginning. Thanks

[@wisconsinaquatics]

2 nets usually works best for me

[@jbres909]

good evening i set up a mbuna tank a couple weeks ago i used fritz faststart and have used prime and stability but still have high ammonia dont want to lose my fish any suggestions thanks

[@jbravo7505]

Take him out already !!!!!!!!!

[@99Canecas]

Senhor Ben i got some male mbuna’s jalo reefs that can take care of your jerkfish lol cichlid hit . Thanks for sharing . Bigfan of your videos and knowledge.

[@johnlarsen8308]

I agree one fish can cause so many problems he could even be the smallest in the tank

[@dominic9279]

That's the dragon blood isn't it?

[@BenOchart]

Yes, and both the DB and the Phoenix are hybrids

[@alejandrolisdero4531]

I enjoy doing experiments. I did some experiments in my tank. I enjoy them even if they turned out not as I expected.

[@freddievara8117]

Another tip is lower the temperature to 65 degrees and this will slow there metabolism down and it should lower aggression. At higher temperatures there metabolism speeds up and they go into a mating frenzy. Especially fish that are semi aggressive to start with. If there is no hiding places this situation is what usually happens. Sorry Ben it’s Disheartening to say the least.

[@brettcoyle2399]

I hope your talking Celsius and not Fahrenheit lol?? They’d never make it at 65 degrees F

[@freddievara8117]

@@brettcoyle2399 Down here in Florida breeding ponds go lower than that in winter months and the Africans do fine the optimum temperature for less aggregation in an Aquarium is 68 to 70 degrees. Been there and done that.😎

[@wabalaka1565]

I have my Blue regal in time out for the 3rd times now. Usually he back at it again the next day.

[@BenOchart]

I’ve seen that. You put them back in and they pick it right back up, right where they left off. Time outs don’t seem to bring about any learning.

[@usposse]

the hybrids are pricks period especially the OB peacocks with the Mbuna blood

[@todddiedrich9106]

I’ve had mine dragons blood for a long time he’s a jerk at time but was never that bad he’s huge now and kind of leaves everyone alone for 85% -90% of time just got lucky I guess but my tank was heavy decorated. Ps I like you put him in time out and yell at him you’re a bad boy bad fish

[@elizabethwagner2190]

My tank is decorated in rocks, live plants, fake plants, wood. They all pick spots.

[@andrewderksen3342]

My peacock 🦚 are still juveniles And my dragon blood probably has a similar personality:/ however I think my Fusco & Red Back are keeping him at bay 🙏👍

[@HotPockets88]

I've never had any luck with a a**h*** fish either. I've don't everything you have as well time out separate tank bigger fish added what have you... nothing works once that switch is flipped seems like you can't flip it back

[@BenOchart]

I agree David. Finding them a new home is the only fix.

[@FrozT99]

If you put him in with some ob peacocks and haps that are much larger (he looks about 5 or 6 inches) like 8 inch or bigger, he'll settle his shit down.

[@123-g6u1j]

I trained my fish to get inside the fish net with food. It makes catching a fish mush easier.

[@Remsterdam]

Sorry to see you can’t turn things around Ben. I have the same experience with agressors that really damage the tank mates, had it with a Eureka Red and an Acei once it got really big. Fish store would not take them so i had to euthanize them.

[@BenOchart]

Really changes the vibe of the tank, the stress and the enjoyment

[@RaHeru1]

Interesting thing about chiclids I raised different tanks and after yrs my jaguar eat my rainbow chiclid and all my blue chiclid

[@theblindfishkeeper]

Definitely sounds like it’s time to rehome that dragon blood. He sounds like he’s just got issues with other tank mates. Hope all the other fish recover. That poor Eureka read Jake has been through a lot.🐠🦯

[@BenOchart]

He has. He, initially, did his share of dishing it out. Now he’s suffering some bad karma. I’ll get him patched up and decide what to do with him.

[@usposse]

ob peacocks might even do ok in a Mbuna tank not sure but with all that aggression they possess

[@aznmien1871]

I would suggest putting the fish with bigger fish, too big for it to bully..

[@t1dirty]

Hummmm.... informed not to get a dragon blood

[@BenOchart]

I’ve had 2 and they were both beautiful and totally nuts. I think I’m done with them.

[@joshhopper6109]

Ya I hate super aggressive fish. My tank boss for 2 years was a red shoulder peacock that was overly aggressive but not a killer until one of his son's finally got big enough to take over... His son is a much more genital tank boss.

[@rossdingle6236]

Shame about the jerk, he’s a beautiful looking fish. Its the best thing to drop it off to the shop for someone else. I had to do the same thing with a red tail shark a few months ago.

[@davidadkins8805]

Bully fish deserves the hammer! ⛏ He must have Dovii blood in him.

[@BenOchart]

Serial Killer DNA.

[@alexvargas613]

To make it easier for me to catch a fish in my 150 i use a piece of plexiglass to trap them on one side of the tank. Now i don't have to chase them.

[@BenOchart]

Yes. I have a video on that. I was using a ceiling light diffuser. I just didn’t have one big enough for the 210👍🏻

[@alexvargas613]

@@BenOchart ha! I may have gotten the idea from you. 😆

[@brettcoyle2399]

But he’s in a timeout lol they aren’t supposed to be on vacation that breeder box worked wonders for one of my eurekas

[@acevedoaandres]

Ben greetings. I know your experiment will fail. I have done that before. Dragonbloods are real killers. It must be put in a tank with bigger much bigger fishes and it do not guarantee a happy ending. A fish like that will always be chasing other fishes and sometimes bigger and stronger fishes cant keep up with the aggression. Obs and dragonbloods are a problems in community tanks must of the time.

[@BenOchart]

This one certainly fits your conclusions

[@DrivingStandards101]

Feed it to a cat, Dragon Bloods will never have a place in any of my tanks.

[@lewisspeed3041]

You did the right thing,that fish will never be right,sometimes I think it’s a testosterone problem

[@Bellyup6969]

I have a 8 inch blood parrot that has a murder everyone attitude. Can’t keep him with anything. Pure psycho. He even bullies a Texas and a red devil ,, it’s so bizarre. If you have your hand in the tank he attacks as well. Pure evil lol

[@BenOchart]

“Pure evil” 🤣🤣🤣 perfect description 👍🏻🤣🤣🤣

[@freddievara8117]

What a shame still me old school plenty if rocks and hiding places no beat up fish. Yes some hide but do come out feeding time all out and about. Plenty of plastic plants no damage to fins these fish in the wild swim away from each other in an Aquarium they have no choice. Very Cruey😭

[@joeprovenzano4362]

Dragon bloods suck.

[@philhare7851]

probably would have out better by adding all fish to an empty tank and see how it wouldve went......its nver fun watching fish getting picked up...

[@BenOchart]

Heavily stocked is the direction I’m going in with the 210