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Slide 1: How to Reduce Cichlid Aggression In Your Tank Extreme aggressive behavior has been often described in cichlid fish both in the wild and in aquariums. Beginners often find this particular aspect of keeping cichlids very challenging and, unfortunately, end up with their tank population being decimated in a very short time. In this short article, I will discuss how to control and reduce cichlid aggression in your tank. General Guidelines to reduce aggression in Cichlid aquariums Yes, many cichlid species are aggressive. However, the level of aggressiveness can vary. Also, in some cichlid species, aggressive behavior is displayed only towards the individuals of the same species while, in other species, other species are also the target. Other cichlid species are actually quite timid! In this case, when setting up cichlid aquariums, it is strongly recommended to not mix shy and aggressive cichlids. So, if you want to reduce losses in your cichlid aquarium, make sure that you choose cichlid species with similar temperaments. Fighting will still occur! However, it will take place less often. There are two main reasons why cichlids start fighting.   Competition for food Competition for mates Competition for food One of the main reasons for aggression in cichlids is the fight for food. A quick and easy solution for food-related aggression in cichlids is feeding your fish less and more often. This will keep your cichlids well fed during the day and will help reduce their motivation towards food research and competition with the other fish within your tank. Competition for mates Another main reason for aggression in cichlids is the competition for territory and females.
Slide 2: The strongest male in the group becomes the alpha male and will constantly engage in behaviors meant to display its dominance. Also, dominant males will also chase the females in the group in the attempt to mate as much as possible. If you notice this behavior in your cichlid tank, don’t worry it’s perfectly normal. Among all cichlid mating habits, it is actually one of the most fascinating. However, cichlid competition for sexual mates must be closely monitored and kept under control as it can cause serious losses in your tank. Although it is practically impossible to fully stop it, you can reduce it having the correct male to female ratio. This is perhaps the easiest way to control cichlid aggression. In most cichlid species, males mate with more than one female. For this reason, it is important to have at least a 3:1 ratio between females and males. Providing enough females, will keep males busy and will reduce competition forcing the males to show interest for multiple females… This will reduce aggression towards other males and also will give the females in your tank more freedom. Eventually, this simple strategy will save a lot of lives in your cichlid aquarium. How do you tell the females from the males? In some cichlid species, telling the females from the males is quite easy. However, in other cichlid species it is can only be done performing a procedure called “venting”, which basically consists of identifying the vent in your fish. What is the vent and where is it? The vent is the opening between the anus and the anal fin where the sexually mature fish will excrete either eggs or sperm. The vent is also referred to as the genital papilla. For females the term ovipositor (egg tube) also refers to the vent. The procedure consists of monitoring the development of your fish. So, when your cichlids start being ready for reproduction you’ll be able to tell how many females and males you have in your tank. If you end up with too many males or not enough females, go back to the store, return some males and buy some new fish. Yes, finding the right balance between males and females will take some time but, in the long run, it will pay of immensely.
Slide 3: Conclusion Like all animals and fish, cichlids have quite a broad range of behaviors. Aggression in cichlids is one of their natural behaviors and, while it cannot be fully stopped, it can be controlled and minimized tweaking their feeding habits and using an optimal ratio of males and females. Finally, when setting up cichlid aquariums it is important to choose species with similar temperaments. Altogether, these strategies should help to considerably minimize cichlid aggression in your tank. For more information on cichlids and how to to set up a cichlid aquarium, simply fill the form below and get instant access to my “Cichlid Care Mini Course”