FishProfiles.com Message Forums

	Lip locking
Mys Fingerling Posts: 47 Kudos: 39 Votes: 0 Registered: 06-Jun-2004	I have a green severum & a fesitivum. They haven't liked each other from day 1. They have never done much damage (yet) to each other but they engage in this intense lip locking several times per day. The severum has surpassed the festivum in size and is more aggressive of late. Any predictions on how brutal this may get or if I should find another home for one of them? Thanks...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:03
Mike R Fish Addict Posts: 593 Kudos: 830 Votes: 322 Registered: 27-Jul-2004	How big is the tank and how big are the fish and what else is in there with them? Cichlids get cranky when they are crowded so if the tank is too small you may need to get a bigger one or get rid of one of the fish. If the tank is plenty big adding another fish to the mix might be an answer. Mike
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:03
Mys Fingerling Posts: 47 Kudos: 39 Votes: 0 Registered: 06-Jun-2004	It is a 30 gallon with a gold sev. & a pleco. The gold sev is small (2" and has always remained small (nearly a year). The festivum is 4" and the green sev. is 5". Pleco is maybe 4". I have 3 tanks but the others are filled with angels and small fish (danios, corys, etc.). I just don't care for them potentially ripping off each others lips...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:03
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	Yeah, your tank is overstocked. Plecos grow to over one and a half feet, and your cichlids get somewhat large, as well. Severums grow to at least six inches, usually to seven or eight. I'd recommend moving your fish out as soon as you can, starting with the most aggressive ones. You might be able to sell them or trade them in at your local fish store. And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:03
Mike R Fish Addict Posts: 593 Kudos: 830 Votes: 322 Registered: 27-Jul-2004	They're crowded and cranky. If you can't swing a bigger tank right now you might put the Festivum with the angels and the Gold Severum with the Danios. Even that will be a temporary measure. One Severum, once it's grown wouldn't be happy in a 30. If you want to keep them all go for a 75 at least. Then you could put the Angels in the 30. Good luck, Mike
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:03
Mys Fingerling Posts: 47 Kudos: 39 Votes: 0 Registered: 06-Jun-2004	The Angels are in a 35 gallon Hex. They are just fine. The gold sev. tortures smaller fish but steers clear of the others so I can't move her into either tank. I plan on getting a larger tank for the crew. I agree the green sev is cranky but isn't that normal cichlid behavior? The lip locking is quite a display. Thanks for the advice...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:03
Mike R Fish Addict Posts: 593 Kudos: 830 Votes: 322 Registered: 27-Jul-2004	Lip locking is either courting behavior, not the case here, or fighting over territory. There isn't enough territory in your 30 and the lip locking will get worse as the fish grow unless they get more room. Perhaps the Festivum could get along with the Angels until you get the bigger tank. Good luck, Mike
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:03


	Jump to:

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies