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Today I got a new Peacock. It was labeled Red ranga (SP?). It's very nice, and it's fairly large.
Well anyway, ever since I added the red ranga my Electric Blue has gotten Really aggresive. It's actually been quite aggresive lately, but never this bad.

I was watching my fish. And noticed my electric blue was in a grumpy mood. It was previously chasing my smaller tangerine peacock, but my tangerine found a hiding spot, and has been there since. Well my Blue was swimming around the tank, and it started to annoy my red ranga, the red ranga then took a giant bite at it. And then they both started to "battle". The blue seems to have a nipped fin, and the red range has a few Scratches and bad lips. My electric Blue has now gone insane and it's colours have turned dark blue with thick light blue horizontal stripes. The tips of the fins have all turned yellow. I've never seen this before.

I don't have any spare tanks to move the fish into, so i decided to move the rocks inside the tank around, thinking that it will change the fishes territory. But that hasn't made any difference.

The tank is a 4ft 115g.
The stocking is.......
1 electric blue / the blue is about 10cm
1 red ranga peacock / about 14cm
1 tangerine peacock / about 8cm
8 electric yellows / 1 is about 8cm. The rest are 5cm
2 BN's.

Does anyone know anyway i can stop my electric blue from being so aggresive. And help would be great.

What is the sciencetific name for the electric blue? There are a couple of fish that people use the electric blue as common names.

I'm not sure. I got the Electric Blue for free from a friend.

The Electric Blue has calmed down now (probably only because it's night time). It has learnt it's lesson and stays away from the red ranga, but it still chases the Tangerine around. I'm starting to get annoyed with the Electric Blue.
I just don't understand why the Electric Blue is so aggresive, it's a large tank, large enough for them to stay away from each other. But the Blue almost goes around looking for the Tangerine peacock. I think i might trade in the blue for another peacock. That way my tank can be peaceful

thanks for the reply openwater

[EDIT I forgot to say that the Electric Blues colours have settled down, and are normal again.


Last edited by PJ at 26-Mar-2005 07:00

If you have two super dominate fish that always want to fight, liplock and chase each other; you can try to break up the tank more. Depending on how your rocks are layed out, you can move them into two seperate "piles". One cluster of rocks at one half and another cluster at the other half and leave nothing for rocks right in the middle of tank for. This might allow for easier territorial makers and less invasion of each other areas.

It really depends on what that Electric blue is.....
Sounds like a Melanochromis species..
What were its colors before? or have they just intensified?


Last edited by mr_cichlid at 27-Mar-2005 20:50

It colours are normally, normal electric blue. Also EDIT my first post, the stripes were vertical not horizontal (i always get mixed up)

Well i took the electric blue to the LFS anyway. I eneded up trading it for 70% off a juvenile Frontosas. So i'm pretty happy. My tank is alot more peacefull now.


I also have one more question. The other day i just realised that my Tangerine Peacock is holding eggs. I find this strange, because i thought it was a male, and second there are no other peacocks in the tank. Is it possible that the Electric Blue could be the one responsible for this. And if so, what should I do. Should i let the fry grow up, despite being hybrids or just leave them in the tank and let the other fish eat them.

Thanks for your replys.



Last edited by PJ at 27-Mar-2005 21:06

Good move getting rid of the Blue, kinda sounded like a zebra species(horizontal stripes) which would have only gotten worse......

The odds of a Mbuna crossing with a Peacock are very, very slim....Anything that closely resembles a Peacock is a much safer bet. Personnally, I'd destroy all the fry as Hybrids really have no place in the Malawi world.
just my opinion

Also those frontosa are going to need a bigger tank, 6ft....for even 3-4....still a little ways off but keep it in mind

Thanks for the reply.

Yes i realise that the front will need a large tank in the future, but it'll be fine in the tank for now. Thats why i'm saving up for a larger tank now. So in a few years (probably about 2 years) i'll be looking at getting a 180g+ tank. That should be a good size for a small colony of frontosas.



The front is only about 1inch at the moment. So it still has plenty of growing to do.



Last edited by PJ at 29-Mar-2005 00:07