rED O Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 I picked up 3 large female red empresses today at the auction and I put them with my 4 inch male in my 75 gallon witch I hope to breed them in. I have 3 females and one male and lots of hiding spots. I introduced the females about a hour ago and the male is going nuts, one of the females fins is already getting ripped up. what should I do? add another female? try and get more hides with the tank is already full? should I just wait to see what might happen and let things play out. Any advice form red empress breeders and keepers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JORG Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Are there other fish in with them ? The easiest way to stop aggressive behavior is to crowd the fish. The male might be a bit excited and is temporarily going into overdrive and he might calm down after a while, if not you could try to remove him for a few days and let the females settle in. One male/3 female ratio is fine for them. When I add adult fish into a tank that already contains fish I find it is better to do so just before lights out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rED O Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 I thought of adding more fish so I did before they went in, and the mbuna were picking on them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rED O Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 update: there is way less agresstion than last night, the male is showing off now, he chases the largest female the most but This I belive is the breeding behavior Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qattarra Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Another trick I was taught is to use a large net and put the aggressive fish in time out. Suspend the net up in the corner of the tank . Apparently this causes some humility,he feels he's no longer top dog and he behaves better once released a day or two later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JORG Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 update: there is way less agresstion than last night, the male is showing off now, he chases the largest female the most but This I belive is the breeding behavior Sounds like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rED O Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 the females are all in the top conner of the tank terrorfied of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JORG Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 I would take him out for a few days. This is one of the reasons I try to get my breeders or juvies all at the same time it is just easier not to deal with overzealous breeding or territorial issues---you could also try rearranging the tank decor but I would still take the male out for a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rED O Posted October 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 I have no were to put the male Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Buy or make a divider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JORG Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 I have no were to put the male Put him in a bucket they are not that fragile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stribbelldk Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 I would agree with pulling the male out. If you let the females settle in then re- introduce the male, the agression shouldn't be much of an issue. I don't know if this would work but what about more females??At least the aggression is spread to 6 or 7 instead of 3!! I can store your male or sell you some females! Storing is free as long as you waive the studding fees. :shock: Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rED O Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 You want me to have 7 females?how long should the male be separated from the females? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JORG Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 You don't need 7 females unless you are planning a feeder factory, I find Red empress to be fine in pairs or trios your male is going a bit berserk right now because he isn't used to having the females around. I think gravid females release some kind of hormone that makes all male haplochromines a bit wacko, just put him in a bucket for a couple days (fish often stay in bags for this long during shipping) and let the females settle in. You have to remember they are confused right now and they have a horny male taking shots at them constantly--I think things will be better after a couple days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rED O Posted October 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 i have a plan, we just took down a small graden shed in our back yard made out of green plastic. Iam going to make a divider and put that in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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