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As some of you already know, I have a 6inch male Chipokae Cichlid...known to many as the "pyscho fish" He lives in a 20 gallon tank, has a few decorations. His favorite pasttime is to move the gravel to the front of the tank. Also, to uproot my plastic plants and bury them in said gravel.

I don't have a slush fund to spend on simply redecorating to give new decor to destroy (as much as I want to) and with his size versus the tank size, I can't get anything too large in there lest he will lose swim room.

My question is about toys. He ignores a pingpong ball that floats and I can't sit and play with the laser pen light all day with him. He has no tank mates because he's vicious (he can even catch danios)

So, what are some ideas for enrichment products that I could buy or make to give this poor, highly intelligent fish something to do all day...(other than smash the glass rocks against the walls to get attention) Oh yeah, and I have already had to get an extremely heavy duty heater because he got bored and smashed the last one against the wall until it shattered in the tank.

Any ideas and thoughts are greatly appreciated! Thanks y'all!

You could simply play the game with him... rearrange the gravel to the back of the tank and unbury the plants and provide a few more. Repeat as he finishes redecorating. Give him something to do.

Since he seems to like to move things about the bottom of the tank, how about some sort of ball that would sink? I wonder if there's something that would sort of bob around mid-water?

Get one of those remote control subs or whatever they are... I've seen them in the fish sections at the LFS... Would be amusing, though I'm sure he'd probably wreck it sooner or later. *grins*

I keep thinking of something like what you provide parrots with... a string laced with different beads, wood blocks, etc... I'm wondering if you couldn't come up with something to hang from the edge of the tank. My only concern would be with him slamming something into the glass... Perhaps he would be interested in a string of beads dropped INTO the tank? Hmm...

Poses an interesting problems, really.

If you could find a female chipokae, perhaps isolate her in a breeding trap so he could get used to her being in the tank... when he seems amicable to her being there, then release her? Hmm... dunno how that would work, but it might be worth a shot if you can find a girl.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

The chipokae hangs out around the bottom a lot, right? Have you tried a golf ball? They sink, won't crack the tank glass or break up in the water, and are very easy to get ahold of. They come in many colors, in case your fish has a preference. I figure that a golf ball would be large enough to get your fish's attention.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

How big is this fish? I have never heard of them...

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

wings - like he said... mr Psycho Fish is about six inches long, and I think it was guesstimated in chat that he's about four inches tall.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

I guess I read over that part... sorry....

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

He doesn't stay at the bottom of the tank...he's all over it, often near the top, but he won't chase floaty things...he just wants my cat...he likes trying to eat her

i'll try the golf ball

don't think the next would work well with a chick