How to Tame a Butti Cichlid

Not all fish live harmoniously together. Certain species of fish are capable of bullying and dominating their area. Buttifokeri cichlids are no exception. Butti cichlids are typically very dominant and often bully weaker, smaller fish. While there is no rule stating that you must keep these fish away from other fish, it is advisable. However, if you choose to keep a butti cichlid fish in a tank with other fish, there are a few tricks to try in order to avoid your butti cichlid from becoming too aggressive and killing or severely injuring your other fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Spare fish tanks
  • Tank divider
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Instructions

    • 1

      Switch the tank around. Remove your fish from the main tank and place them into individual tanks. Ensure they have ample amounts of room and food. Clean the main tank and switch around any decorations in the aquarium. Leave the fish in their temporary tanks overnight and reintroduce them to the main tank the next day. This eliminates previously set territories and gives the fish a fresh start.

    • 2

      House the butti cichlid with similarly aggressive fish. Often, butti cichlids lose some of their aggressiveness when a fish that also may be aggressive arrives in the tank. When housing aggressive fish together, house them in groups of six or more to reduce the chances of one fish being bullied. Housing a butti cichlid with fish that are not as aggressive but are similar in size may help as well.

    • 3

      Isolate the butti cichlid. Many times, butti cichlids simply do not live well with other fish. Often, in order to avoid harm to other fish, butti cichlids must live alone. Place a divider in the main fish tank in order to separate the butti cichlid from other fish or simply remove them completely and place them in a tank by themselves.