red-tail black shark attacking new algae eater

[twinturbo11]

Hey guys,

Yesterday i bought my first chinese algae eater and added him to my 20 gallon tank, which includes 1 two inch red-tail black shark. Although the RTBS does not harrass any of my existing tank mates, he immediately attacked the poor little chinese fellow... i sepereated them for a little bit, but then immediately after the RTBS viciously went after it. At this point, I put the RTBS in a bowl, while the chinese algae eater COMPLETELY cleaned up my entire tank from algae, which is a blessing. I am at odds now - not sure who to give up. I really love my RTBS as he is very cool looking and entertaining to watch. But in the meantime, my chinese fellow seemed to have remove all the algae from my poor plants which were suffering.

 

[twinturbo11]

my tank includes:

1 two-inch RTBS
2 mollies
2 small panda cories
2 small kuhlie loaches
5 small neons
1 one-inch yellow cichlid (cant remember name)

 

[Mgamer20o0]

they are known to do it. mine was fine until one day it snapped. its trying to let the CAE who is in charge and where is his territory.

 

[jm1212]

they are pretty aggressive with bottom feeders.

 

[lovemybarbs]

The exact same thing happened to me. They do not like newcomers. In my case it was a beautiful black ruby barb and the shark put bite marks in his side until he died.

 

[twinturbo11]

darn, now it going after my Electric Yellow Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus) , although it could never catch up to it, because the cihlid is too fast for it.....

but in the same time, my yellow cichlid now is nipping at my new marble molly (it's in the shape of a ball or a marble)...! is it taking out its frustration on it? if i remove the chinese algae eater, will all this fighting stop? arg

lastly, i just noticed that the top fin of my panda cories have been chewed a little... would that be from my yellow cichlid or from RTBS? i have never see either one bother the cories before...

 

[Mgamer20o0]

your best bet would to get a new tank for the RTS. removing the CAE may not cause it stop going after the rest of the fish. that might been what it needed to set it off.

 

[Shagmaster]

RTBS are known for suddenly snapping and going on psycho killing sprees.

 

[BucJason]

African Cichlids are going to cause you trouble in any community tank, even Yellow Labs which aren't aggresive as most. They will still sometimes nip at other smaller species.

I'd take back the Yellow lab and the Shark.

I have a shark also , and they are cool I agree, but they really limit what else you can get in the tank. They are REALLY aggressive. They are always labeled as semi-aggressive, but this is wrong . They should be labeled aggressive. If you do get a shark you should add it last, because they seem to hate most new-comers.

 

[Shagmaster]

Also try takeing all the fish out of the tank, then re-arrange the decor. This will take away any established territories the fish may have had. IE like putting them in a new tank. Might calm the RTBS. (Just make sure you add the RTBS last) Might help. Good luck.