Need some input

[jonv]

Chris I think you'd be best suited for this with your experience, but if anyone has ideas would be good. I'm not totally in the dark on this but more like unsure what would be best.

From what I've seen and to me seems a little unusual at it's size, but the Malaysian Golden Jardini seems to want to take over in the 180 at about 6 inches in size. I know Jardini are typically more aggressive then your South American types of Arowana, but it's size makes it a very young Jardini, might be a year old at best. I had him over in the 100 gallon tank because the one time I tried putting him in the 180, the Venustus male roughed him up pretty well.

Since he was in the 100 I suspected he was picking off the Venustus fry slowly considering I started with a VERY large brood probably between 55-60 of those, and now to date, I can only find 7. I doubt that number died off on it's own even with some fry being weaker, I can't possibly see this as being weaker fry not surviving. I have to think that the Jardini ate a good deal of them and why I moved him out. The seven I have left are good size and more important to me now that their mother passed last night.

Since it's moved to the 180, it seems the Jardini has decided it's not going to get bullied this time, so much to the fact, it seems to specifically target that Venustus, who's significantly larger and bulkier then the Jardini, but cowers away from it and hides quite a bit.

I'm wondering, Chris, is it possible, since the Jardini is a Malaysian Golden, the yellow coloring on the Venustus is triggering some sort of challenge response out of it? I haven't really seen anything like this before, but this is also my first Jardini. I had the Yellow tailed Asian before and silver and black SA's, so I have to admit this is a first in terms of the Jardini. It appears it's only the Venustus it goes after as well. Any thoughts on this?

[Chris4Reef]

thats a tough one because i have seen jardinis that were peaceful but then i have seen and owned more that arent very nice.

certainly i dont have much experience, i have owned 5 jardinis and even at a young age they do like to fight. certainly a 6 incher is mroe than capable of doing damage to other fish and like shown can is willing to take over an aquariium and kill/eat the inhabitants.

um i personally would say that Jardinis are best alone. they have the personality of flowerhorns and i have seen cases where they will try and bite the hands that feed tem. but yet at the same time i see videos of nice sized jardinis not care and swim peacefully with cichlids and asians & silvers etc... so i guess it is like a male betta. it depends on the fish. my last jardini was about 5 inches long at most and it took on a 8-9 motoro ray and both fishes ended up dieing.

in my opinion i believe that it will attack the cichlid regardless of size, im not 100% sold on the color issue but i believe it might work its way down starting with the most powerful fish. that is a tough call jon. i personally like the jardinis but their aggressiveness makes them an untouchable fish for me unless i was to put it in its own tank.

[jonv]

Cool Chris maybe that's what will have to be done as soon as the Polleni grow out then, only I was already thinking to long term the Jardini in the 180 since it would most likely get to a size that shouldn't be too deeply of an issue, only the 24 inch width might cramp it. Of course if I get him out to a good solid 2 feet, I bet he'll fetch a nice turn around profit. There's a guy who is Malaysian over in Newark selling them when I got him, for 60.00 a fish at 3 inches. Grow him out to adult size I bet I could get at least 200.00 for him.

Might be the only choice if it continues to act like that. What sucks is much like you've said in other answers before, that while you can probably get South American types to stay away from others, the Jardini, more aggressive gets to a size more capable of long term in a tank, but would have to be the only fish.

As you also noted, I've seen older Jardini in tanks too that maybe at younger ages picked on everyone, but eventually settled for the upper level and had full Mbuna communities staying on the bottom with no issues. I'll have to wait and see for now. I really had hopes this would work, but if he doesn't get out of that habit, I don't think I want to give up the Madagascars over the Jardini.

Sorry i didn't see you answered too and mailed you basically the same thing. Just disregard email then. Thank you Chris.