Lipig wrote: ↑Fri Apr 25, 2025 12:39 am
Here goes, my third attempt at creating a thriving mbuna community. I'm drawn to them despite past disappointments - I love the concept of slightly overstocking to minimize aggression, their vibrant colors, and energetic nature. However, as soon as the tank turns into a battleground, I lose enthusiasm. My first experience was surprisingly successful; I kept 15 mbuna in a 55-gallon tank for years without a single loss, until I eventually had to disassemble the tank and rehome the fish. My second attempt didn't go as smoothly - I started with a similar number of fish, but the pecking order became so intense that I lost most of them due to aggression.
I'm curious to know how you maintain harmony in your mbuna tank. Do you remove the most aggressive fish, and does that actually help? I'm aware that removing the bully might just create an opportunity for another to take its place. How do you keep the peace in a mbuna tank when you're doing everything "right"?
I've got a 240-litre tank, started with 25 juvenile mbuna and 2 synodantis catfish. Problem is, unlike other aggressive fish, mbuna never seem to settle their pecking order. They're just too hardy and fierce, always fighting. I've lost count of how many times the tank boss changed until about 6 months ago when my cobalt zebra finally established himself as the top dog.
