How to Manage African Cichlid Aggression

[@TazawaTanks]

How do you manage African cichlid aggression in your tanks? Comment below...I would love to read what is most popular with all of you.

[@THEnelsonbruhs]

It seems that for me, turning lights off has been by far the biggest factor in reducing aggression. I have 10 tropheus duboisi maswa in a 75 gallon tank. It used to be 14 about a year ago, but I lost 4 in very quick succession due to aggression. Since then I’ve kept my tank in complete darkness unless feeding them. And I’ve noticed that the moment the lights come on, my tank boss goes on an absolute rampage. It’s gotten better these days and I haven’t lost any fish since a year ago, so I’ve started allowing natural light into the tank during the day. But I refuse to turn the lights on unless it’s feeding time

[@koiCompetitions]

Awesome video, probably one of the most asked questions as well, good job 👍

[@AlexRoyster]

Ha I tried super hard to put all sorts of blocks up with Silver Tip Tetras but essentially then it allowed another dominant fish to just move in to that the additional open space. So pretty much ended up with like 3 fish holding the main areas of the tank and everyone else hiding in the back! Thanks for the vid lots of great tips!

[@salvadorvelasquez8204]

OMG, the best video that I definitely agree with, lighting/decor/male or female (all tank)/ over-stocking, I've tried them all and found out that im great with OB PEACOCK like yours MR. ZENZO, yet still working on getting new canister filter. Thank you for the video.

[@geraldmartin8478]

Overstocking is my play. I love messing with my tanks and so water changes not an issue for me. My tank is Mbuna and Haps and have a rock formation in one corner for the Mbuna and free water on the other half. Love the video

[@timward2728]

Where do you get your backgrounds and/or rocks from? It looks like universal rocks but I was wondering if there was another place.

[@thomaswhalen5528]

I've just started my my yellow lab cichlid tank..I have 4 females 2 males and a giraffe cichlid..I know the giraffe will need a bigger tank..thinking of adding blue orchid peacocks..would these be good tank mates?

[@billcolin-singer7371]

Nice video with good advise for our African cichlids and their aggressiveness with tips I didn't know like temperature and light!!But for me overstocking and hiding places are the best way with some help of getting them young and let them grow together then they behave more than a school and they swim and eat together and sometimes chase each other but with no harm done!!

[@AlphaAchilles]

I have 3 cichlids. 2 are Jack Dempseys and 1 is a convict I believe. I bought them as all Jacks but as they got bigger one of them stayed smaller and looks a lot darker and has stripes like the convict. But anyway, I have to keep them all in separate tanks now. I have 2 40 gal breeder tanks and a 55 gal tank. I have one tank that has the smaller cichlid with a crappie in there and a pleco. It does ok most of the time but can be aggressive towards the crappie. The other 2 tanks they are completely alone because they viciously attack the other cichlids if I put them together. At one point the large cichlid had a bunch of babies when they were together but they hasn’t happened in a while and since I don’t know which ones are male or female I’m not sure which ones to put together to breed since I would like more babies. But not sure what to do at this point.

[@gianbarmanable]

Thanks for great tips.😉👍.

[@frankschindler7073]

Great info. Will be very helpful for the newbies. Take care,🇨🇦👍😁🐡

[@MrEbrethil]

Many thanks always informative :) love from Malta ..

[@ultimatefishkeeping]

Great video discussing aggression. 👍 I use the same techniques to keep the aggression at a minimum, except for the light technique, I have them on for 8 hours a day.

[@joet6494]

To defuse the agression in my tank i have some rocks with ins and outs and little over stocked but I make sure i have good filtration I have an fx6 and fx4. I like your 75 gallon Zenzo i keep my Africans in a 75 gallon too. Love these fish. Great video Zenzo!

[@karencassidy377]

My African cichlids are small still so they have alot of room, but still pick on eachother. Not sure how much is to much?

[@dennisruedel]

Hey Zenzo, I enjoyed your video. You have suggested some great tips because I have either tried them or talked to hobbyists that have had success with them. I have an all male tank, moderately stocked, of large Malawi haps. It’s conservatively decorated and I keep it at 77°F. I feed once or twice a day, especially if they get a little rowdy. Anyways, thanks very much for sharing your tips 👍.

[@mikemyers1265]

I have an electric blue and a mbuna. The mbuna has been the dominant for over a year with the electric blue female being chased around and forced to the corner. Now all of a sudden IT CHANGED! The electric blue female now chases the mbuna around and forces him to stay in the top corner of the tank. I dont get how this happens all of a sudden, it's like she just got tired of being bullied and took over and is now the bully

[@brackon1087]

Super good video man I had to figure this all out. Yeah male only helps a lot. I found that with peacocks there is 2 ways I succeeded and you are doing one right now. Overstocking so slightly more fish than maybe should be in a tank this spreads out aggression immensely, the second is large rocks so in a 75 I would say 4-6 very large rocks about the size of a human head.

[@HaYNFishKeeper]

You don’t get “Hangry” you just start slapping grown men in the face 👱🏼‍♂️👋🏽 lol awesome vid braddah!!

[@TazawaTanks]

Hawaiian Peacock LOL!!!!!

[@kenlarge4630]

This worked thank you

[@OFFROADRUNNER101]

I added a few new fish the other day. My electric blue ahli has been getting picked on by three bumblebee Mbunas. So I just put all three Mbunas in timeout. Hope this works. My Ahli is still at the top of the tank, Hopefully he calms down and reestablishes himself. He’s a cool fish.

[@YUVAAPREM]

Hi friend, Video is nice and more useful, I planned ro keep parrot, Green terror, Sevron, Peacock cichlid and mono angel in 3 feet tank, kindly advise your opinion

[@hallberry4742]

I been feeding them flakes , blood worm , squids, but never live fish , I didn’t want them to be too aggressive. ( but they are still super aggressive omg ) Can you make a video about your filtration system ? Thank you !

[@fantom5894]

Subbed. BTW Heard from another video 1 fish per 2.5 gallons for Mbuna; 1 fish per 3.5 for haps/peacocks with robust filtration and water changes. Agree?

[@TazawaTanks]

Thanks for the sub! No, I 100% disagree with that formula. The problem with blanket formulas as it doesn’t account for tank size/shape/surface area. As an example, the 2.5 gallons per mbuna would mean that you could have 16 full sized mbuna in a 40 gallon tank. That would not work unless you are doing water changes every 2-3 days and managing the carnage of aggression. Obviously, the 2.5-3.5 formula would work better with larger tanks (6’ long 125 gallons+). I hope my answer makes sense!

[@hallberry4742]

help please , my African cichlids are killing each other ! One just bid one’s head off ( part of the head ) I also have a 75 gallon

[@trentmclemore2504]

I've had mine for a month with a couple other fish and had no issues

[@jaronnolen818]

Hello! Great videos. I would love a Peacock tank. I'm kind of scared I will have a lot of casualties. I have to rely on my daughters to help me because I'm paralyzed due to ALS. The daughter that helps me with fish only comes three days a week. If something happens I can't get up to separate them. Plus I only have one aquarium. Do you think it's possible for me to do African cichlids or should I move on to something else? Thanks for your time and have a great day!

[@TazawaTanks]

Jaron Nolen Hi Jaron. I think you could keep African Cichlids if your daughter helps you. However, if you have limitations, a planted aquarium with peaceful fish may be easier to manage and will require less maintenance due to the plants. Please feel free to reach out with more questions or help!

[@ruthconrad2672]

I have mine separated, my fiance was the cichlid person, he got killed in a car accident so I have been stuck with them oh, I have been thinking about taking them back to the pet store but not sure what would happen to them there

[@TazawaTanks]

I’m very sorry for your loss. 😔

[@joevasquez1776]

I turn up my circulation so they get more exercise 😂 then they to tired 😴

[@MariGomez-uy1jj]

I have a Frontosa and Flowerhead... they were never aggressive to each other but lately my flowerhead has been going after my Frontosa... My Frontosa has his little hang out area but is bothered by my flowerhead... They are both 4 inches long in a 75 gallon tank... I love them both but don’t want my Frontosa being bullied....

[@TazawaTanks]

Mari Gomez As your flowerhorn grows, you may have more of an issue. Probably best to have them in separate tanks.

[@AnesteticMusic]

Sometimes the problem is only in one fish. It is said that when you remove the most aggressive fish, another takes over the territory and the game begins again. Yes, but not always. Sometimes other fish, other species are not as aggressive as the previous one. I did that, then peace came after that. It's been a year already. Of course, aggression is on, but the fish began to swim around the aquarium. Previously, they hid in the corners. Now electric blue hap is the king of the aquarium. I also have a female and even during the spawning he is not so aggressive. The previous dictator was Aulonocara Stuartgranti or some mix (looked like Chilumba) Other fish I have - Aulonocara Sp. Calico (pair), Aulonocara Eureka Red Albino (pair), Demasoni (pair, but female separated) and 3 others small aulonocaras. Aquarium only 180L, wall build with real black rocks from the ocean, many caves. The domination might changing depends which pair make love right now ;]

[@akaidogg6983]

noticed the city cap - go Warriors!

[@bartender534]

But, I thought your fish needed at least 10 hours of light?

[@TazawaTanks]

No. They are fine with ambient light or being in the dark at times even.

[@bartender534]

@@TazawaTanks Great to know! thanks

[@kerrypitt9789]

Medical Cannabis, never seen an aggressive stoner. Of course there is the food bill....