More tank pics, updated

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Whatever you think cichlids will do, count on them to do the opposite. The PVC cave I set up for Boss he lost interest in, so Chip has a haven there. The branch hut/cave I set aside for Chip, Boss has taken over! Now overnight sometimes I'll still see Boss in the PVC cave when he's run Chip out...so he doesn't seem to care if Chip stays on the other side as long as he has the preferred house!

Everyone in chill out mode. Brick loves nesting around his hollow log (touching his boulder is not allowed). Chip is cool in the PVC cave. Boss peeps through his branch hut.

 

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Parrots do the nuttiest things. Patch just sleeps whatever...

 

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Updates.

I had to remove Brick's ceramic hollow log. It was knocked over one day...I saw all the fish floating over it and looking down. So I stood it up. Three days later it was knocked over again, this time against the front glass. Not wanting to push my luck I decided to remove it. Maybe down the road I can put it in the center as a pass through. These cichlids are strong and my crew can get fiesty.

I'm also moving around rocks and boulders. My O shoves them against the tank walls. I took out some large rocks he was picking up and throwing against the glass. It's tempered but I ain't no fool.

On holiday break this week so there's time to keep an eye on things. The guppy grass I got has pretty much been eaten...there are scraps wound around stuff in the tank but its like 80 percent gone in a few days.

The dominance chain in the main tank now goes like this:

Tank Bosses: Brick the Oscar, Boss the BP
The constant #-hole: Chip the Severum
New Guy: Bobo the chocolate cichlid
Bottom dwellers: Cash and Spot, Syno catfishes

Who chases who

Cash will pop Spot at times. Minor squabbles with the synos. Cash is larger. No big deal, really.

Brick and Boss chase Chip/Bobo
Boss shoves/pushes the synos around. Brick threatens them with his big mouth (they take off when he opens wide).

Chip is truly disliked because of his opportunistic aggression and ridiculous persistence. Still loses every fight, still keeps starting them. Chip annoys the choc in frustration after he gets bounced around by the tank bosses. The Oscar runs him in laps around the tank. The BP bangs him around, shoves him sideways and grips his lower lip. So once he's pressed in a corner he looks for the Choc to take it out on and chases him a bit.

The tank bosses are somewhat protective of the choc now, although they still chase him a little. Mostly they chase him back over to their side of the tank. Chip is chased to the opposite side.

The severum pays the price for his foolishness at times. This afternoon somebody went upside his head. He's sporting marks above his eyes and has a nice nick just past one gill.

The synos just stay the hell out of the way and hide.

 

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Well, so much for the guppy grass...I had SEVEN healthy bunches that looked really nice in the tank. I never got a chance to post pictures because in a week my fish ate it all! Each day it kept disappearing. For crying out loud...38 bucks for salad. They must have been eating it at night.

I might try it again sandwiched with the fake plants but no time soon.

Pics of Bobo the choc coming soon.

 

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As promised, pics of my Chocolate cichlid Bobo. I've had him about a month. He's grown about 1/2 an inch and has increased his girth by about 1/2 inch. He is constantly changing color from tiger stripe tan/ brown to dull orange gold, to nearly black with purple and red blotches...I'm waiting for him to turn polka dot! But a sweet tempered fish, very friendly.

 

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Chip is desperately trying to hold on to his spot as #3 in the heirarchy. Once Bobo settled in he refused to take any guff from the Severum. Bobo would rather not fight but at times he gives Chip a good pop:

 

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The antics are everywhere. The tank bosses are somewhat protective of Bobo. They'll chase him too but won't harass him. Here, Boss (BP) bangs sideways into Chip knocking him away from Bobo.

 

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Size comparison of the Chocolate and Severum. Chip is 7", Bobo 6". He's already thicker than Chip, who is 1" wide. I think in a month or two Chip will probably be 4th in the heirarchy...he's still an ass who keeps trying to provoke dominance except nobody is dominated. His tail fin was split weeks ago when it snagged in the net. It's healing nicely.

 

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A couple of group shots with Bobo, Chip and my O Brick. Brick is completely out of scale with everyone else at this point. His black pigmentation has returned to his fins and scales since I took the last pic.

 

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My fish seem to change territory every few days. Chip is now in the branch cave and Boss has reclaimed the other side of the tank (his preferred side) and is back in the pvc cave. Once Boss abandoned the branch hut Chip found a spot. This could all change again in a week. The one consistency is Brick prefers the side of the tank near the door, but will sleep most anywhere depending on mood. Bobo retreats into the plants or canopy, Chip at the bottom or in the branch hut. He wisely keeps a wide berth from Brick, who isn't very tolerant of him at all and will charge without warning. Brick chases Bobo a little, but mostly to herd him to one side. Bobo usually finds space to explore around the Oscar as well. Boss does his own thing...he may swim with the Oscar or just stay in his chosen area.