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Hi all,
I have 3 festivum cichlids in my 120 gallon tank. They are now spawning for the second time and all hell has broken loose. The pair are constantly after the third wheel, to the point where he just cowers in the corners. Last time they spawned I came home to find his fins all tattered and I had to put a divider in the tank. The eggs ended up getting eaten and once that happened fighting broke out within the pair (one began beating up the other), which resulted in me having to segregate the three fish using dividers and a separate small temporary tank.
Anyway, the pair has begun cleaning a spot again and the aggression is back in full force. It's unfortunate, because 90% of the time the three live together very peacefully. Is there anything I can do to dissuade the pair from spawning or to lessen the aggression besides putting in dividers again? The tank is lightly planted and has driftwood but I suppose I could try and put more cover in. It previously had more hiding spots but that didn't seem to make much of a difference, though. I really don't want to have to use dividers or devote more tanks to these guys; I like them but they are becoming too much of a hassle.
I don't want to get rid of any fish but these guys are ruthless when spawning, WAY worse than any other species I have kept.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
I have 3 festivum cichlids in my 120 gallon tank. They are now spawning for the second time and all hell has broken loose. The pair are constantly after the third wheel, to the point where he just cowers in the corners. Last time they spawned I came home to find his fins all tattered and I had to put a divider in the tank. The eggs ended up getting eaten and once that happened fighting broke out within the pair (one began beating up the other), which resulted in me having to segregate the three fish using dividers and a separate small temporary tank.
Anyway, the pair has begun cleaning a spot again and the aggression is back in full force. It's unfortunate, because 90% of the time the three live together very peacefully. Is there anything I can do to dissuade the pair from spawning or to lessen the aggression besides putting in dividers again? The tank is lightly planted and has driftwood but I suppose I could try and put more cover in. It previously had more hiding spots but that didn't seem to make much of a difference, though. I really don't want to have to use dividers or devote more tanks to these guys; I like them but they are becoming too much of a hassle.
I don't want to get rid of any fish but these guys are ruthless when spawning, WAY worse than any other species I have kept.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
