dealing with super aggressive rusties
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 3:46 pm
Hey guys,
I've got a 55-gallon tank with a pretty interesting mix of fish - seven Yellow-Tailed Acei, seven Yellow Lab, one Demonasi, and seven Rusties. All of them are still juveniles, with the largest ones reaching about three inches max.
I've noticed that the Rusties are by far the most aggressive fish in the tank. They constantly chase other fish that come near, dig a lot, and are extremely aggressive towards each other as well. I've seen some pretty intense mbuna aggression before, but these Rusties take it to a whole new level - they're like little Auratus. They're even keeping the Demonasi cornered.
Given their behavior, I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to tone down the aggression in the tank. I was aiming for a medium-aggression cichlid setup, but it's clear that's not what I've got right now. Luckily, my tank has plenty of caves and hiding spots, so the other fish can escape when needed.
I've got a 55-gallon tank with a pretty interesting mix of fish - seven Yellow-Tailed Acei, seven Yellow Lab, one Demonasi, and seven Rusties. All of them are still juveniles, with the largest ones reaching about three inches max.
I've noticed that the Rusties are by far the most aggressive fish in the tank. They constantly chase other fish that come near, dig a lot, and are extremely aggressive towards each other as well. I've seen some pretty intense mbuna aggression before, but these Rusties take it to a whole new level - they're like little Auratus. They're even keeping the Demonasi cornered.
Given their behavior, I'm wondering if there's anything I can do to tone down the aggression in the tank. I was aiming for a medium-aggression cichlid setup, but it's clear that's not what I've got right now. Luckily, my tank has plenty of caves and hiding spots, so the other fish can escape when needed.