Introducing smaller female Texas Cichlid to older male.

[pitt420dude]

I'm really not sure what to do here. I have a 20 gal long with a medium amount of rocks and a large fake plant. In it is a about a 6-7" mean male that wont leaver her alone. She is about 3-4". He definitely isnt hungry either because I really fed him alot so he wouldnt be hungry. Tank params are fine and i just did a 30% pwc yesterday.

Her back fin is already split b/c he was really going after her (in a not so much "I love you" way but more of a "Get in my belly!" way; so I had to put her in my community tank 55 gal with other fish like loaches, swordtails, gold gouramis, cory's, rainbow shark, etc. I think this is a disaster waiting to happen and am VERY afraid she will eat everything in there.

What should I do?

Tank separator in the 20 gal? Attempt to reintroduce? Keep in 55 gal? Anything else?

 

[Big Ben]

I would put them in the 55 gal together and make sure theres a lot of hiding places for her.

 

[Zagz]

I agree that they both need to be in a bigger tank. Not sure your other community fish will fare at all well. I think your tetras will become dinner for the cichlids.

 

[Voodoo Chilli]

The 2 Texas cichlids will NOT work in the 20g tank; you'd need a 55g to keep the two of 'em in even if you could get them to pair off. Can you take the female back to the shop it came from?

 

[pitt420dude]

unfortunately, it didnt work out. He pretty much tried to eat her after I decided it was not worth risking every fish in my 55 gall. : ( I am a fish killer.