Green Terrors

Question
Hi Karen,
I have 2 green terrors in my 40 gallon tank but the problem with one of them is that he does not come up during feeding time, he justs stares at me. He used to dominate the tank and killed every other cichlid. The other terror is very small(about 1 inch) and is cowering in the corner. My male is really scared. Also my Koi carps are behaving strangely. The keep moving fast and restlessly. Why is this happening. Please tell me.
....Srinivas

Answer
Hi,
My best guess to your cichlids is the larger male doesn't feel safe in the aquarium--perhaps if he had some other confident fish swimming about the tank to show there is nothing to fear he will likely come out and begin eating, especially if the confident (also called Dither fish) fish are eager eaters. And I suspect you may be having the exact problem with the smaller 1 inch baby. Compatible dither fish should be of a decent size, very confident, and eager eaters, they must not be fin nippers or aggressive themselves--this may make matters worse. I have have good luck with using Tinfoil barbs as good dither fish. These fish do get very large and grow quickly but are beautiful once they get some size to them. They are quick, active, and can fend for themselves. Your 40 gallon will eventually be too small for a small school---Tinfoils reach up to 14 inches. You might be able to keep 2-3 but it will be very crowded with the cichlids in all but it might work out.

Make sure you have plenty of hiding places for your cichlids so they feel like they do have many places to hide if they feel threatened. A lot of baby cichlids around an inch or so are very shy and may hide quite a lot during their first couple of months or so.

If adding a suitable dither fish still doesn't tempt your cichlids to swim around more and come out and eat...Let me know....I will try to give you further suggestions. Remember every fish is an individual and cichlids especially exhibit their own personality despite sources claiming they are aggressive or shy. Personality is what counts.

Your Koi might be spawning as they go into a spawning "chase" much like goldfish do. Where the male--or several males pursue one female relentlessly around and around spawning at intervals. Or their behavior may be a sign of bad water quality. Or if the pH has changed dramatically can cause fish to dart about....Or they may just be really active. Are they pretty young? Have you just recently gotten them?

I hope this helps! let me know what happens!

Happy Fishkeeping!
Karen~