RE: Beginner needs help! (Was: High density fish tank)

["David A. Youngker" <nestor10@mindspring.com>]

> From: John Wubbolt
> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 7:51 PM
>
> ...dont mix the pelvicachromis species in with
> the south american species... for some reason
> they never do well together...  old world fish
> with old world fish, new world fish in with new
> world fish...


>> From: David Soares
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 8:23 PM
>>
>> For some reason African fish seem to be more
>> aggressive, at least to me they do


>>> From: salS
>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 8:42 PM
>>>
>>> Or, come look in my tanks...My theory,
>>>  " If it works for you it's OK!!"

One of Paul Loiselle's monthly AFM columns examined the issue a couple of
years ago. As I seem to remember, the gist of it was a difference in
instinctual cues: one, for instance, goes "heads down" as a submissive pose
while the other turns "heads up". I would imagine that the flurry of poses
and displays of mating could often be misinterpreted (maybe even more so).

He suggested caution in mixing the two, but as usual with a "cichlid" column
the type of fish under discussion were of the more aggressive varieties.
I've kept the two (Apisto and Pelvi) before, but don't ever remember mixing
them because I usually don't keep Africans where I could have South
Americans - they're more of a first-rate substitution when Apistos are
lacking wherever I may be. Having observed the behavior of both, though, I
don't see where it's necessarily "doomed to failure". You would stand an
even greater chance of success if the mixing occurred with young specimens.

_But_...

If your intent is to mix them into a densely populated tank, then I would
show some mercy to the Apistos by dedicating them to their own tank. You can
compromise with a pair or two, but a whole population might be too much for
the Pelvis to figure out. Nor will the Apistos wait around while they do, so
the Pelvis might just have to tear into a few or more to get the point
across, if you get my drift...

-Y-

David A. Youngker
nestor10@mindspring.com



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