Aggression in 40g Tank, Firemouth won't stop chasing Green Terror

[Norsynth]

Hi all,

So, the first three days the Firemouth just followed the Green Terror with no chasing of anytime, he seemed quite scared really.

But it's been two more and he will not stop terrorizing him, just constant chasing. Is it supposed to be fun for them? My first time owning Cichlids and this fish is incredibly aggressive.

The fish are both Juveniles at about 1inch.

I have tried adding many plants and decorations as well as adding dither-fish, red-eye tetras to try and distract. Now one of the tetras is attacking the other! I just don't get it.

Any advice is appreicated.

 

[Deadeye]

What’s the full stocking on the tank? How many hiding spots are there? How big are the fish?
Cichlids are naturally aggressive fish, so chasing is to be expected. Firemouths are generally a less aggressive cichlid, especially compared to terrors, so the roles will eventually switch (likely resulting in the death of one).
Firemouths are generally a schooling cichlid. Also, both will eventually outgrow the tank.

Dither fish will usually help to make fish more comfortable to come out, not necessarily stop aggression. Tetras will frequently squabble among themselves - generally harmless unless it escalates to death.

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

Hi all,

So, the first three days the Firemouth just followed the Green Terror with no chasing of anytime, he seemed quite scared really.

But it's been two more and he will not stop terrorizing him, just constant chasing. Is it supposed to be fun for them? My first time owning Cichlids and this fish is incredibly aggressive.

The fish are both Juveniles at about 1inch.

I have tried adding many plants and decorations as well as adding dither-fish, red-eye tetras to try and distract. Now one of the tetras is attacking the other! I just don't get it.

Any advice is appreicated.

I think this is a classic case of "Rule of Two" as I call it. If the firemouth and the green terror are the only cichlids in the tank, the dominant cichlid will always chase the subdominant one. 2 is the worst number of cichlids to keep in a tank for that reason. To remove this aggression, either remove one of the cichlids, or have a total of over 4-5 cichlids in one tank to spread out the aggression.

 

[tlindsey]

The fish are both Juveniles at about 1inch

Even at that size they view each other as competition for rights of food and territory.

 

[tlindsey]

If the firemouth and the green terror are the only cichlids in the tank, the dominant cichlid will always chase the subdominant one.

Yes

 

[Norsynth]

What’s the full stocking on the tank? How many hiding spots are there? How big are the fish?
Cichlids are naturally aggressive fish, so chasing is to be expected. Firemouths are generally a less aggressive cichlid, especially compared to terrors, so the roles will eventually switch (likely resulting in the death of one).
Firemouths are generally a schooling cichlid. Also, both will eventually outgrow the tank.

Dither fish will usually help to make fish more comfortable to come out, not necessarily stop aggression. Tetras will frequently squabble among themselves - generally harmless unless it escalates to death.

• Senegal Bichir (5 inch)
• Firemouth Cichlid (Juv. 1.5inch)
• Greenterror Cichlid (Juv. 1.5inch)
• 2 Red-eye Tetras (1.5-2inch)

Plenty of PVC Caves, dragonstone, and driftwood. Medium-planted. Over filtrated with a Fluval 407, sponge-filter, and Penguin HOB.
Of course I will be getting a 75g for them in the upcoming year but because they are so small it seemed excessive.

So does it make sense to switch out the tetras with a few other juvenile cichlids since they are all small? And upgrade once they hit the 5inch mark or so?

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

• Senegal Bichir (5 inch)
• Firemouth Cichlid (Juv. 1.5inch)
• Greenterror Cichlid (Juv. 1.5inch)
• 2 Red-eye Tetras (1.5-2inch)

Plenty of PVC Caves, dragonstone, and driftwood. Medium-planted. Over filtrated with a Fluval 407, sponge-filter, and Penguin HOB.
Of course I will be getting a 75g for them in the upcoming year but because they are so small it seemed excessive.

So does it make sense to switch out the tetras with a few other juvenile cichlids since they are all small? And upgrade once they hit the 5inch mark or so?

Maybe you don’t even need to waste your money on another 75. I’d recommend keeping the fire mouth and building a tank around that cichlid has a centerpiece. You can try tetra and livebearers as dithers to the fire mouth. You can also try getting another fire mouth and letting them pair up. Especially since your cichlids are still small so you can get 4-5 more firemouthe and see which ones pair up. Remove the rest and viola.

 

[Deadeye]

I’d beef up the tetra numbers, but realistically I’d pick one and pair it. Green terrors especially don’t like to share space, and it would likely turn on the firemouth even in the larger tank.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Firemouths (thorichthys in general) are social, and prefer to be in groups of around 5 or more. Perhaps it's getting aggressive because it's stressed from not having conspecifics, I know geos get like that
Also why do you have only two red eyes

 

[duanes]

Firemouths (thorichthys in general) are social, and prefer to be in groups of around 5 or more. Perhaps it's getting aggressive because it's stressed from not having conspecifics, I know geos get like that
Also why do you have only two red eyes

Agree with this.
FMs prefer to live in a group of at least 4 or 5. of their own kind
A 40 gal tank is not adequate for either scenario
If alone, or in a pair, they tend to be hyper aggressive.
Whereas GTs on the other hand, are loners, but at that size, if the FM may overwhelm.

It also depends on tank size, if they perceive the tank as not enough space, (and its up to the fish to decide how much space is enough) not you.
A group of FMs with tetras as dithers, need a minimum 6 ft tank (you also need at least 6 or more tetras to be effective as dithers), hence the need for a 6 ft tank.

because your tank is smaller, you'll need to get rid of 1 of the cichlids,
and in reality a 40 gal is not enough space for either cichlid species alone as adults..