Freshwater guy
Aquarium Advice Regular
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2011
- Messages
- 70
There seems to be some debate about how to manage aggression in the tank. I have a 55 gal tank I would like to set up with mbuna cichlids, and I have been told and read in a number of places that the best way to keep aggressive fish is to crowd them to spread out the aggression.
I have seen tanks set up this way that the inhabitants seem healthy and happy, it just seems wrong to me though. I have always kept cichlids in smaller numbers following the 1 male to every 3-4 females rule and lots of hiding places. I would love to have a tank with 25 to 30 cichlids but not at the expense of stressed out fish. Was also recently told that if you don't plan to breed them... Keeping all males would keep aggression down also.
Any thoughts, opinions, or experiences
I have seen tanks set up this way that the inhabitants seem healthy and happy, it just seems wrong to me though. I have always kept cichlids in smaller numbers following the 1 male to every 3-4 females rule and lots of hiding places. I would love to have a tank with 25 to 30 cichlids but not at the expense of stressed out fish. Was also recently told that if you don't plan to breed them... Keeping all males would keep aggression down also.
Any thoughts, opinions, or experiences