Top 5 least aggressive cichlid

[viejafish]

Hi,in the aspect of European aquaristics, it is the most peaceful fish for me Cleithracara maronii .

There are so many peaceful cichlid in SA, so it’s hard to say keyhole is the most peaceful, but is likely in the top five for SA.

Rainbow cichlids are considered to be on the milder end for Centrals. I would say yes and no. They don't fight for fucs sake like Convicts, but they can get nasty if the mood hits. I had one that intimidated a large syno Catfish by popping it on the head relentlessly. The fish eventually worked it out.

There are many nasty cichlid in CA and few, if any, are considered peaceful. Rainbow is on the milder end on CA standard, but above SA. Not all convicts are nasty as there are milder convicts such as HRP, nanoleutus, cutteri, if you include non Amatitlania species.

 

[FINWIN]

There are so many peaceful cichlid in SA, so it’s hard to say keyhole is the most peaceful, but is likely in the top five for SA.

There are many nasty cichlid in CA and few, if any, are considered peaceful. Rainbow is on the milder end on CA standard, but above SA. Not all convicts are nasty as there are milder convicts such as HRP, nanoleutus, cutteri, if you include non Amatitlania species.

My hrps have put out "hits" and I've found bodies. usually dumped out front for me to dispose of. Just sayin...

 

[tiger15]

Mine is territorial. Guards the plant area. Although not as vigorously now that his mate has been removed.

I currently have two female Blue acara in a 75g attempting to pair up. Two female egg layers can pair up, and a ripe female can lay eggs on her own. In either case, they will guard nests and become aggressive, but milder and only briefly as any eggs laid will not last. I have never observed homosexual pairing of male egg layers, but male mouthbrooders often coerce other males to mate and get aggressive. I have never had female mouthbrooders pair up or lay eggs on their own.

 

[viejafish]

One over looked mild temper CA is Jack Dempsey despite its nasty name. I once had a large male JD that was so whimpy that he was bullied by convict half his size. He wouldnt eat guppies either as he was raised with dry food all his life. Another mild temper CA is Vieja synspillum despite its huge size and beauty. My former synspillum backed off fight from a pair of yellow convict a quarter of its size. I got rid of my Synspillum and JD because they were so skittish that they often hide away when someone approached the tank.

 

[ccichc]

CA I’d say Jack Dempsey and a lot of the amatitlania genus minus convict, rainbow cichlids, fire mouth.

SA is almost all of them minus umbee and festae

 

[FINWIN]

It really depends on the individual fish, age and environment. Exceptions are everywhere. Plus crowding will bring out the nasty in most any fish (except goldies, but they're weird).

 

[esoxlucius]

It really depends on the individual fish, age and environment. Exceptions are everywhere. Plus crowding will bring out the nasty in most any fish (except goldies, but they're weird).

This this this^^^, thank you FINWIN .

I could sort of understand these type of "most aggressive, least aggressive" sort of threads, if there was actually any definitive answers to them! But there never is!

The variables that come into play are many, especially with cichlids. A mild mannered species owned by one keeper, might be an out and out jerk in another owners tank.

These different scenarios that play out in different set ups all around the globe are nothing to do with the fish, but everything to do with the way they are being kept!

In short, their behaviour, good or bad, is on the keeper!

 

[duanes]

Because blue acara's ( Andinoacara clade) usually take at least 3 years to become territoraliy fully mature, their true nature in most aquariums is not fully realized.
I kept about a dozen Panamania blue Acara's together in a 180 gal tank, and for 3 years all went without a hitch.

At @ three years one male hit his territorial stride (about 7"), and began to take out all other males in the 6 ft tank, and a couple non-receptive females.
In the end he allowed 3 females to share that size tank, over the next couple years, and periodically spawned with all 3 throught out the breeding season, raising multiple broods.


Most cichlid keepers have no idea about the territorial space even small cichlids like Acara's really need.
My 180 gal is probably a mere drop in the bucket compared to spacial reallity.

 

[viejafish]

It really depends on the individual fish, age and environment. Exceptions are everywhere. Plus crowding will bring out the nasty in most any fish (except goldies, but they're weird).

You have a point. Developmental age (not chronological age) can influence fish aggressiveness greatly. In general, cichlid become more aggressive as they reach sexual maturity. But there are species differences. Mbuna are territorial at very young age, and get meaner as they age. Jack Dampsey is docile at young age, most aggressive at adolescent, but mellow down in old age, which has been reported in Innes book of Exotic Aquarium Fishes.

I don’t think there is much individual fish difference per se, but more difference in individual environmental setting or age of fish that makes the difference.

 

[tiger15]

This this this^^^, thank you FINWIN

These different scenarios that play out in different set ups all around the globe are nothing to do with the fish, but everything to do with the way they are being kept!

In short, their behaviour, good or bad, is on the keeper!

The captive environment certainly has great influence on fish behavior, but I wouldn’t say aggressiveness has nothing to do with the fish, just the environment. Flowerhorn will attack their own reflection without pairing, tankmates or decor. Angel and discus are peaceful regardless of the environment until they reach sexual maturity and pair up. One objective way to rank cichlid aggressiveness is to keep single sex community to prevent pairing so as to reveal non sexual pecking order.