frankenstrat Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 im intersted in starting a 3x2x2 with demasoni to potentially breed them.does anyone have some good tips on how to stop them killing each other?i know heaps of hiding places is usually a good start, but i was wondering on what is a good species to add as dither fish?cheersluke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyber_crimes Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I found no hiding spots worked best with mine. Any spot that they could call their own just turned into a match of blood sport for it. I was waking up to a dead fish or 2 every morning and told myself not to worry it is just excess males anyway (I have no idea what sex they were but telling myself that kept me sane and come to terms with the constant loss lol). This went on for a few weeks before I had had enough, tore everything out and had no more deaths after that...ETA: I was keeping mine with Electric yellows and Cobwe at that time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 i think the trick with them is quantity. 20+ in a 3x2x2 will be fine with decent filtration. that way the aggression is spread out. also cull out excess males. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankenstrat Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 Thanks for the tips, I have 2 males and 10 females on the way. I will keep them with barbs as dithers and I think I'll try with some reefs first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowie Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I have mine breedingin a tank with no hiding spots and havent lost any yet to aggressionThe tank is a 4x18x18 with marble chip as substrate When i did have a cave in there the dominant male was really aggressive towards all of the other fish but once it was removed the aggression stopped andnow they only harrass each other when breeding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucem Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Simple setups have worked best for me too. I had about 3 rocks a bit bigger than my fist and three caves in a 4x18x18. I originally started with around 30 fish. I found that full rock setups were a nightmare. I pulled out maybe 10 dead males and 1 dead female over the years. I just sold my colony recently . Out of 23 fish there were about 6 males.I think you may have trouble with 2 males. I would go with 1 male or 3+ and lots of girls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epiccichlid2013 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 2 males will cause trouble. I think you'd need 3 or 4 to stop the Dom male from constantly beating on the sub Dom male Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tootie Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 When I started keeping mine it was trial and error which meant several deaths. I tried no hidning places and hiding places - both ended up badly. I started growing them up from fry thinking I would have less problems.I now have a breeding colony of two males and about 7 females with a couple of caves at each side of my 4x18x18. I have them in with a colony of peacocks and electric yellows. I have little aggression now and "touch wood" no deaths for a long time. In saying that recently I removed my sub-dom male as the dom male was giving him a hard time. It seems to be when they want to breed.Perseverence is the key.Good luck with them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankenstrat Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 ill get an extra male i think, i have some pvc home made reefs that i will use at each end..and i will keep them with some barbs and peacocks more than likely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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