Petrochromis Care Tip, Help!

[justink]

hi everyone, can someone please guide me on how to keep the aggression of petrochromis moshi down? I just purchased a group of 8 petrochromis moshi (1M/7F) for my 180g acrylic tank. The first few days, there were very minimal to no aggression at all, however these past four days, the male seem to be very territorial and chasing all the female to the opposite side of the tank. Now the largest female of the group is claiming her little territory on the other corner of the tank. I have been rearranging the rocks around the tank to see if any changes on aggression, nothing really. My question is 1) whether it is a normal for a fairly new wild caught group to act like that? 2) Can I or should I add another one or two male to crowd the tank and preventing the large female from becoming too aggressive? 3) will the aggression decrease overtime? Any input will greatly appreciated.

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I am pretty sure Andrew keeps the tank for new wild fish completely free of rocks during the initial few weeks. I have never kept Petro's or wild fish so I cannot help out unfortunately mate.

[phish]

You need to add more petro asap or at least dither fish before it's too late. Moshi are really aggressive especially breeding times. Small groups may work if you have several small groups together.

[swk]

Heard this so many times. Most times it ends up with one male petro surviving.

Small groups of similar shaped petros can work, but a lone group of 8 Moshi is asking for trouble ime. Even with only one male. Females CAN be killers too

Be prepared to intervene with tank dividers if you want to save your fish! It can happen literally at a moments notice.

[swk]

I don't mean to come across as doom and gloom, but I just want to make sure you understand what the likely end game scenario is. It's something no one wants, financially or otherwise. But do be prepared with dividers and isolation boxes. While petros don't have large sharp teeth, they have huge mouths filled with coarse sandpaper like consistency that can do a surprising amount of damage in very little time

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Good ideas.

From my experience all that you are seeing is normal. I would keep minimal rocks in the tank and most of them by the males end of the tank and only a few smaller ones by the other end. I have 9 Moshi that are very peaceful most of the time. But when the male gets fired up I hear a LOT of splashing in the tank.

I have found that a bigger rock that is about 12-15" from the end of the tank that the male has claimed works well and then another large rock a good 12" past that and then some smaller rocks piled up in the opposite corner for the females to hang with. The male tends to keep the females on "their side" of the tank especially when hes spawning. But in between spawns the females are more free to come out and play, so to speak. Its just how they are in suck small tanks (I have a 6ft 180g) compared to their size. I also have a large Jebao circulation pump on the girls end of the tank that blows his way once a day. Helps to lift the debris into the filter intake as well.

I wouldnt add more males. If anything After you have given them time to establish their colony dynamic, I would add females unless you double the size of the colony. That would be the only way to add more males is if you went from 8 to 16+ IMO...


Dithers are also a good idea. 10+ Tropheus or another smaller Petrochromis or even some of comparable size. IF you need to. But give them time. Keep them in pristine water, feed them well and see how it goes. This is all new to them and they need time to adjust. But dont keep changing the rock around. They will never establish territories and rules among themselves.

Hope this helps.