5 *NOT* Docile African Cichlids (These are KILLERS) - My 5 Picks!

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  • Опубліковано 23 лип 2024
  • Here are 5 NOT docile African Cichlids that I DO NOT recommend for anyone looking for a peaceful or calm tank. These are aggressive and under the right circumstances can be killers!
    In my prior video, 4 Docile African Cichlids (see it here: • 4 "Docile" African Cic... ) I discuss fish that, as far as African Cichlids are concerned, are pretty calm. The fish featured in this video, all fish that I have owned, are fish that come with a violent side and if you're looking for a calm and relaxing tank, these are NOT the fish you want!
    I've owned all of the fish I go over in this video. I speak for first hand experience. Several of them left me no choice except to "re-home" them because they were creating too much stress for their tank mates (and for me).
    Here are my picks, but I want to hear your picks. What's been your experience with aggressive fish. If you were advising a new fish keeper that was looking for a peaceful tank, what fish would you tell them to avoid at all costs? Jump into the "Convo Gang" and share your thoughts below. Never forget that, "We all learn from each other" on this channel and "always be learning" is one of our mottos! So be a part of that "convo gang" and jump in on the topic discussion.
    I enjoy reading your comments as well as the conversations that go on between all of you, both in comments below the live chats that take place under my Cichlids & Coffee live streams.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 159

  • @BenOchart
    @BenOchart  4 роки тому +3

    Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to watch!
    For more fish keeping videos with tricks, tips and hacks, check out these playlists:
    For "My Best Fish Keeping Tips" click here:
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    If you are like me and love learning and new ideas related to successfully keeping fish, how about hitting that sub button and bell? That way you'll get notified whenever I upload new content (and it tells me that you are enjoying the channel content).

  • @tobiasgriffin2289
    @tobiasgriffin2289 2 роки тому +7

    I love how you say “from your experience” and not stating your opinion as 100% fact as some do.
    Those “experts” can really lead one down the wrong path. Thanks for your experiences and obvious passion for these creatures. It’s very helpful especially to fairly a newbie as I am. Love this hobby!

  • @PatrickGregoryDaniels
    @PatrickGregoryDaniels Рік тому +2

    That was a great video Ben. Your commentary is really funny but not over the top. I’m appreciative of your work as I binge, make music and eyeball my new 90 gallon tank

  • @jeffbeatty6325
    @jeffbeatty6325 4 роки тому

    Good video Ben! 👍

  • @YogeshKumar-wr4wb
    @YogeshKumar-wr4wb 3 роки тому +1

    Wow that's a good advice on the non docile chichlids. Really a good one 👍

  • @jorgechavira7729
    @jorgechavira7729 Рік тому +1

    Very informative I like videos that bring new knowledge to me because I love to keep african cichlids. Thanks

  • @joseCalderon1976
    @joseCalderon1976 11 місяців тому +1

    Good list. Subscribed 👍

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  11 місяців тому

      Thank you😀👍🏻

  • @wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853
    @wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853 2 роки тому +1

    I always appreciate how you mention that each fish has a unique temperament. I have found that to be so accurate, as different fish from the same clutch have such diverse personalities as they age. Same thing when breeding age shows up..lSometimes it’s the little jerk male, other times it’s the gentle giant….I do appreciate these videos. Thank you!

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  2 роки тому

      We even see this with kids. We have four and each one is totally unique despite having the same parents and growing up in the same home circumstances.
      You’re into baseball? Have you heard of Driveline in WA?

    • @wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853
      @wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853 2 роки тому +1

      @@BenOchart If it's driveline the throwing program, then yes. It is taught here in Chicago, but its major competitor is National Pitching Association Tom House style, which, as a pitcher, I MUCH prefer.
      Driveline uses weighted balls whcih are thrown backwards which i do not enjoy using, as this unnatural motion is very stressful.
      The towel drills and theraband approach is what I use.
      I am a specialist in the world of Glove repair and performance modification, as category which, with God's help i more or less thrust into the industry!

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  2 роки тому

      @@wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853 Was House associated with USC at one time? My son is a co-owner of Driveline but currently farmed out to the Phillies. He added batting to Driveline and is currently in charge of minor league batter development with the Phillies. So many great technical tools are now available.

    • @wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853
      @wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853 2 роки тому

      @@BenOchart Yes! Also the Texas Rangers!

  • @COINSINPOCKET
    @COINSINPOCKET 4 роки тому +6

    I hate when i come home from work and look in my aquarium to find a slaughter took place..

  • @MrHistory88
    @MrHistory88 4 роки тому

    What is a good group of safe choices for a male peacock tank? If you have a vid on this subject, could you link it please? Thanks for your time. Been loving the vids and fb group

  • @jeffb5785
    @jeffb5785 2 роки тому +4

    The Melanochromis Auratus is the nastiest fish I have ever had in a tank

  • @marypaigeflynn4512
    @marypaigeflynn4512 4 роки тому +3

    When I had cichlids years ago. I Iknew absolutely nothing about them and we sure didn't have UA-cam...of course there's no telling what kind of cichlids I had mixed together. I just bought all the pretty ones😂😭but within a year I definitely didn't have as many as I started out with. I really didn't think I would ever get back into them, but after learning with you someday I'm going to try it again when I have learned about all the different ones... And their dispositions 🤔😂 thanks again for sharing another great video!!!👍❤️🐠🌿🌱✌️

  • @mikezizis3725
    @mikezizis3725 5 місяців тому

    lovely pix - thank you Ben. On a minor note - where is the"T" in Venustus? No offence meant.

  • @davidfulop7824
    @davidfulop7824 Рік тому

    Love you Ben O. Great stuff.ive been playing with cichlids for over 30 years.finally gave up on haps and aluns. Obs of all kinds had them all,they were the worst then red.tan tigers very mellow at first then killers.i do love how some fish definitely keep the peace. I've gone to schools of tropeus I have three varieties. And schools of a dozen or more.there young now so we'll see how they do.take care Ben.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  Рік тому

      Thank you David! Good luck with those fish😀👍🏻

  • @Jinxie911
    @Jinxie911 4 роки тому

    I have a somewhat juvenile red empress in a mbuna tank. I've yet not seen him go crazy towards my other fish and he's in full coloration. The stripes are gone and in full bloodred coloration. The only fish he does chase is the female but none of the other fish. He's by far the most stunning fish in my 350 l aquarium. I do keep an eye on him tho as I figure he might go crazy at some point. I this a ticking bomb or should I rethink my strategy here?

  • @Roland2307
    @Roland2307 4 роки тому +1

    So far my experience with Venustus and Livingstoni has been enough to make me steer clear of all Nimbochromis in the future, lol. I have an Eyebiter that just hangs out. If he’s being aggressive, he’s doing it very discreetly.. I have two blue Mooriis and the smaller of the two is rather aggressive. My 125 has actually calmed down thank God. I’ve got it pretty well stocked right now and I think that was what it needed. It’s most likely forcing them to not be as territorial. They’re not even going crazy after water changes. I have an OB Mbuna in my 110 high that’s extremely territorial. He chases but he doesn’t bite thankfully. He’s a five inch long beefy torpedo. Interesting hobby we have here.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +1

      The fish keep us on our toes, that's for sure. I became reluctant to buy dolphins. Every one I've had has been very nippy. You got lucky with that eyebiter. I hope he stays that way.

  • @thebeardscape
    @thebeardscape Рік тому +1

    Just goes to show, every fish regardless of species will be different than the typical stereotypes. Great Video

  • @JSquaredDesigns
    @JSquaredDesigns 3 роки тому +1

    Great video Ben. I have kept African Cichlids for approx 15 yrs in both 55 gal and 130 gal tanks. I wanted to share my experience with the Malawi Eye Biter (compressiceps). I have had the good fortune of keeping two different stunning full grown males (one is in my 55 gal acrilyic currently). These fish do not deserve the brutal repuation that they seem to have. Both of mine were 7+ inches long and show stoppers that even "non-fish" people would stop and point out. Although I have sensed both of my males have/had the physical ability to be terrors, they have been peaceful tank bosses that are fairly solitary. My current tank I have even mixed in newbie 2 inch sized cichlids that have grown to adult size in the same tank as the adult eye biter. I do make a point of stuffing TONS of rock into my tank so there are plentiful hiding places. Keep up the great videos!

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  3 роки тому +2

      I love eyebiters. They seem to be as much loved as hated in the community and you hear horror stories but you also hear a lot of “My Eyebiter was a big goofball”🤣

    • @JSquaredDesigns
      @JSquaredDesigns 3 роки тому

      @@BenOchart haha good to hear that! They look like a muscular knife, very imposing but I may have gotten lucky with raising a couple that are basically very chill.

    • @joehare1151
      @joehare1151 3 роки тому

      @@BenOchart hi Ben I have a question for you if I had a tank with male african peacocks in! And I put one female eye biter in, what would happen??

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  3 роки тому +1

      @@joehare1151 The female might trigger aggression among the males. Watch it closely.

    • @joehare1151
      @joehare1151 3 роки тому

      @@BenOchart is this the case with any female breed?? So let's just say I put a female gold fish in this could still trigger off male aggression??

  • @scottmellard3298
    @scottmellard3298 3 роки тому +2

    Every fish you named I have purchased and "re-homed". Exception being protomellas. I have 7 inch red Empress 6 inch tangerine Tiger and 6 inch fire hap all in the same tank. While the red Empress is the boss, he doesn't take it to extremes. But yeah the others should really not be kept in most mixed species tanks. It is only a matter of time. Also they are some of the flashiest eye candy on the web sites.

  • @MsDazza12
    @MsDazza12 4 роки тому

    Ben I have a Zebra obliquiden and he is currently terrorising my tank to the point where I am seriously considering rehoming him.

  • @ZackGreensReptiles
    @ZackGreensReptiles Рік тому +1

    Very interesting, I have limited experience however my most aggressive cichlid in my tank is a large yellow lab, he can be an absolute nightmare at times. My male Maingano is a bit iffy but nowhere close to the yellow lab. After that, I had an issue with one of my dragon's blood peacocks. He claimed 1 side of the tank and would not let anyone with exception of the yellow lab cross that midway point. Other than that, haven't had many other issues. My Lemon Jake is really laidback and my Lawanda will sometimes flex however won't chase other fish, just holds its own. My Venustus is only 2" so I'm curious to see how that pans out in the near future.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  Рік тому

      No surprise with that yellow lab. They can be very territorial. Same with the Dragonblood. Hybrids can be very aggressive. The Venustus will eventually be the boss if not killed off before he’s big enough.

  • @andrewderksen3342
    @andrewderksen3342 5 місяців тому

    What are your thoughts on the Fusco
    I picked one up recently :)

  • @sandravaldez995
    @sandravaldez995 4 роки тому +2

    My problem is aggressive Angel fish. I have 2 black sweet angels & 1 veil tailw/ black stripes in a 50 gallon tank. . I had to remove the veil tail because all he did was stay in front of tank patrolling & chasing the other angels being a bully. Luckily I have a 30 gal w/neon tetras I put him in . He’s beautiful but seems a little lonely. All is well now in the 50 gal. Black angels, silver dollar, blue Rams. All peaceful.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Back when i used to keep angel fish I would joke, "They're no angels!" They are pretty nippy.

  • @wendymcdowell2341
    @wendymcdowell2341 3 роки тому +1

    I hadn’t had a tank in about 25 years prior to buying an 80 gallon tank from a neighbor who was moving cross country. She had 6 fish in the tank at the time which were South American Cichlids. The only one I knew anything about was the Tiger Oscar, as a friend of my Dad’s had a fish store. I would go with him on Saturday mornings and just sit and watch the Oscar and loved his personality. Anyway, I got this 80 Gal tank with the Tiger Oscar, a Red Devil, a Jack Dempsey, a Firemouth, a red tail shark, and a common pleco. Unfortunately, the Firemouth and Red Tail Shark were no more before we were able to get the tank. They thought it was the Red Devil that was the culprit, but I’m not sure, as the Oscar’s mouth is bigger than the Red Devil’s mouth. And the fun didn’t stop there.
    Once we got the tank moved to my great room, the Red Devil acted as though he should be a single fish, and did his best to get rid of the others. I was able to find a used 55 gallon tank which the Red Devil now occupies. For the most part, the other 3 mostly get along in the 80 gallon tank. Unfortunately, I came down one morning to find about 50 gallons of water on the floor, as it had sprung a leak. As an emergency measure, we grabbed the 3 fish and put them in the 55 with the Red Devil, who was NOT AMUSED! He immediately grabbed the Oscar by the tail and dragged him backwards. My daughter was able to separate them with a net, and we were able to set up an old 39 gallon and put the 3 in that tank for a few days until I was able to find a 75 gallon tank for them until I can save enough to get a 125 from Petsmart, as the Pleco is outgrowing the 75 gallon.
    The Red Devil is probably tied with my Betta (aqua, red & orange) as to the most beautiful fish I’ve ever had. Unfortunately, he’s also the nastiest to other fish. We love him to death anyway, he’s fabulously entertaining. :) Sorry, just realized I wrote a novel. ):

  • @rogerball6265
    @rogerball6265 4 роки тому

    @BenOchart Well, my Otter Point is fairly calm in my tank. Has to deal with large deep water hap and large star sapphire though

    • @rogerball6265
      @rogerball6265 4 роки тому

      Venustus and Mbuna top my list Bad Dudes

  • @----aryan---7857
    @----aryan---7857 4 роки тому +2

    Good vid ben... now I know not to get an eyebiter , is the strigatus a more peaceful choice?

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +1

      Yes, strigatus are very mellow from my experience, a lot like the Exochochromis anagenys. Just minds his own business.

    • @----aryan---7857
      @----aryan---7857 4 роки тому

      @@BenOchart thx ben, much appreciated mate .

  • @tripezius1
    @tripezius1 2 місяці тому

    Fish Store Bro thought the juvenile Eye Biter would be a good addition to my newly established tank of 14 fish. Four times, when I flipped the light on in the morning one of my beautiful fish was laying on the substrate, motionless, and missing its eyes. I could see through their heads. I didn't witness the murders, but I put the Eye Biter in an isolation tank and haven't had a problem since. He's just started to color up so he's beautiful and I'm not sure what I should do with him.

  • @frankiefingerz8047
    @frankiefingerz8047 4 роки тому +1

    Good list ive been warned not to get eye biters cuz they get big very aggressive & kill everything in the tank i never heard protomelas were as agressive as u say tho

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Yes, those that have had big protomelas know what I'm talking about. There are always exceptions. Some will also tell you that they have a mellow eyebiter, so it's like a toss of the dice.

    • @frankiefingerz8047
      @frankiefingerz8047 4 роки тому

      Most aggressive fish i ever had was a false red terror i had to get rid of him cuz once got 6” he was always tryin to kill my other sa/ca cichlids soon after i switched to af cichlids that was 8 yrs ago

  • @tommyblansett9254
    @tommyblansett9254 3 роки тому

    Nimbochromis venustus that I had was a gentleman in mixed thank but I had no fish that looked similar. I had some wormy-looking limestone with Oscar, two Golden Servum (probably Heros efasciatus), Convict, Kribensis mated pair Channel catfish and several otherfish as well as a young Red channa (snakehead fish) "Channa micropeltes." After a couple of weeks I had to move the Channa to it's own tank as he was taking a beating in that community tank. Venustus neither picked on fish nor was picked on.
    The toughest cichlid I had was a Telmatochromis dhonti that left tiny teeth marks on my fingers and hand when it was less than 2 inches while I cleaned a 10 gallon aquarium where I was planning to temporally House him.

  • @luknehyba5692
    @luknehyba5692 2 роки тому

    Hybrids are definitely the most aggressive I have experienced. A bumblebee/cobalt zebra "blue bee" I call them, absolute killers. I had a VC10 almost 10in(tank boss) and an 11in Venustus, came home from work and the VC had nearly finished the giant Venustus,(I obtained both at the same time as juveniles, they were good together for about 6yrs) I couldn't save him.. as you mentioned some Venustus are good, some.....(he was a good fish) About a week later I noticed the VC was pretty tore up and showing his bands, stripes,,, this was what I called his distressed or pissed look...(which I liked better, once he became the "shock collar" stripes were gone) I kept a close eye on things(as work allows me to) but with the stripes I guess he looked closer to the Blue bee, which wasn't allowing him to display blue with stripes?...the Blue bee completely destroyed the VC10 in a matter of minutes, I moved him in time but he still died a few months later. Any fish displaying blue or with bands like his he literally targets to kill, and once he killed one he was out to kill everything. I also had a b
    Brishardi that was extremely aggressive, that's my odd/ball aggressive fish. Not seen them like this one. Small definitely doesn't mean much when it comes to an adult cichlid, they can be completely fearless, and relentless. Love your fish! You really have some beauties!

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  2 роки тому +1

      Crazy how fast things can change

    • @luknehyba5692
      @luknehyba5692 2 роки тому

      @@BenOchart in an instant...

  • @TheTradesmanLU2001
    @TheTradesmanLU2001 4 роки тому +2

    I haven’t kept enough Malawi cichlids long enough and I haven’t had enough varieties to make a very accurate list but I can make a list of just what I’ve seen personally based on my experience only. I have kept fish for 15 years, but it was always Sa/CA cichlids until a couple years ago. My list is as follows. 5. Blue Dolphin(I have one that is very fierce)
    4. Electric Blue Hap (sometimes very mellow, when fired up he can be rough)
    3. Strawberry DragonBlood (always a jerk)
    2. Taiwan Reef (Lb for lb possibly the toughest sob in my fish world )
    1. Fire Hap (by a long way) absolutely does not tolerate a large blue faced , Venustus or any fish that tried eating food out of the substrate , claims about 1/3 of a 125g , rare moments of peace with this fella.. a few times I’ve seen the v stand up to him when he was solid greenish and the firehap just thrashes him due to having more “fight”. He’s like a torpedo, extremely fast, uses over the top aggression to strike fear in fish that are even larger than he. He’s my most beautiful fish so I guess I’m going to have to get him a stable of females and his own 75g to keep him happy .

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      I can't argue with that list. Every single one has been an issue for me at some time. I stopped buying dolphins because they are always such jerks.

  • @justinshaw6932
    @justinshaw6932 3 роки тому

    Hey Ben my OB zeb is my jerk fish added him to my colony and had to take him back out as he destroyed 2 of my females over night

  • @blissfulyblue4430
    @blissfulyblue4430 3 роки тому +1

    Largemouth bass! An absoloute terror to every other fish once they get big enough, mine live alone.

  • @itssahilonyoutube
    @itssahilonyoutube 3 роки тому +1

    Of all the cichlids ive ever had Kenyi ( mbuna ) is the meanest.

  • @80sGAMER
    @80sGAMER Рік тому +1

    Any red peacock has always been my tank killer.

  • @terryjohnson5047
    @terryjohnson5047 4 роки тому +1

    my jerk fish is an Aulonocara hueseri he is the biggest in the tank at the moment i rescued him from a fish soup tank at the lfs.the rest of my stock are juvs and spend a lot of time stuck down one end of the tank although he chases but no damage so far .loath the get rid of him because he is such a looker and most of the stock will end up the same size or larger than him so i hope they dont bear a grudge

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Yes, we put up with it more when the fish is good looking. If he's stresses out his tankmates it can lead to other issues like disease. Keep a close watch.

  • @njafricancichlids5149
    @njafricancichlids5149 4 роки тому +4

    Great clip! I have a big bad beautiful Venustus he’s definitely aggressive. My #1 is male auratus. That’s an evil fish hadda get rid of him. Too bad they change from the gorgeous yellow juvenile/female type

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +1

      I agree. They are so attractive with that yellow and black, then one day, if a male, it turns into a beast. I also had to get rid of mine. He was a jerk.

    • @sewerpipecasso8750
      @sewerpipecasso8750 2 роки тому +1

      My auratus thought he was a boss. Till I removed him and put him in the mbuna tank. He learned his lesson

  • @wabalaka1565
    @wabalaka1565 2 роки тому

    I used have auratus when I first get into Mbuna and only do research about Mbuna as a whole group not individual and pick up Auratus because it look so cool with those strips I got 3 of them at around 1". Peace was never an option in my tank I hospital 3 fish in a spand of a week. I only realize later after I sit and watch them for about an hour to how those Auratus behave. Give them back to my LFS and they offer to exchange them for different Mbuna I end up buying 5 more on top of those 3 I exchange.

  • @jeffb5785
    @jeffb5785 2 роки тому

    My aggressive list is any Mbuna, and they are usually the easiest to find in pet shops and at the bottom of the price range of African Cichlids.

  • @GSP-76
    @GSP-76 4 роки тому +1

    Great video as always Ben. Call me crazy but I think this video looks a little brighter than the previous one where I mentioned lighting.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      It probably is. I'm on a learning curve with all aspects of using a DSLR to film video (in "manual" mode).

    • @GSP-76
      @GSP-76 4 роки тому

      @@BenOchart if you have good lighting, then just play around with your focal point (F-Stop) settings...that makes a huge difference in how light or dark things wind up looking. You mentioned you were recording at 60hz but when I choose playback on your video 1080/60 wasn't an option...just regular 1080p. Maybe it's getting converted on the upload and a setting change is required?
      I have full confidence that we'll be seeing Hollywood productions from you 😄

  • @JBrass98
    @JBrass98 8 місяців тому

    I love my ob eyebiter he has not too crazy bc he's gotta a lot of bigger fish in the tank. But ever since he's moved into my 150 he's been moving up the ranks. Knocking down my venustus, big protos, big peas.

  • @MegaNate831
    @MegaNate831 7 місяців тому

    I can second your #1. My red empress bosses around my livingstonnii, sand diver and my venustus. He’s also killed 3 fish in my tank all over night without warning.

  • @mr_walker_chris
    @mr_walker_chris 4 роки тому +1

    I agree with the protomelas... They are super aggressive from 2" up...

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +1

      Yes, pretty mellow when small, but then they go a little nuts.

  • @dominic9279
    @dominic9279 2 місяці тому

    Their fantastic

  • @gloriamaletta8667
    @gloriamaletta8667 4 роки тому +1

    20 years back l had a melanochromis cyaneorhabdos he was black and blue white he wasn't big he was so aggressive he killed many fish some 3 times his size so l had to get rid of him he was such a colorful fish but wired for sound swimming sideways and revved up while he attacked any other fish anywhere in the tank and would just not stop it was constant

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Sometimes they give you no choice. Painful when they are so beautiful.

  • @rvzu5313
    @rvzu5313 4 роки тому +1

    Thanks for the add on FB.

  • @51inches
    @51inches 4 роки тому

    HI BEN; YOUR SO FUNNY....LOVE WATCHING ALL YOUR VIDEO'S. I'VE HAD MOST OF THE FISH ON YOUR LIST.....AND YOU ARE RIGHT....I WOULD NEVER GET THEM AGAIN. I HAD ONE RED BORLEYI THAT KILLED 3 FISH IN MY TANK. I REHOMED HIM AS SOON AS THE LAST FISH DIED.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      I was tempted to add a borleyi to the list. I had a real jerk borleyi a while back. Was beautiful but I had to give him to the local fish store. Was just too mean.

  • @matthewnash2840
    @matthewnash2840 2 роки тому

    I've got all these in my tank 🤣 but so worth it for all the colour and looks always the way the best ones have attitude 😉

  • @lemarj
    @lemarj 4 роки тому +1

    The devils work shop!!🤣🤣🤣🤣

  • @texasfish8382
    @texasfish8382 3 роки тому

    I wonder how a largemouth bass and long-eared sunfish would rank. I haven't kept the fish on this list.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  3 роки тому

      Do you keep fish gathered from local lakes?

    • @texasfish8382
      @texasfish8382 3 роки тому

      @@BenOchart yes and other waterways. I have done reptile educational displays for well over 20 years and have decided I don't want to clean snake tanks anymore. Haha. I will be displaying native nongame smaller species of fish. I realized that there isn't any place you can see these interesting fish. You can't conserve something you don't even know exists. I also plan to take people out to find and learn about them. I have already started doing that before 2020.

  • @njafricancichlids5149
    @njafricancichlids5149 4 роки тому +1

    Forgot to mention, I have a big albino eye biter and venustus 120G and my MOST aggressive may be the blue pseduotropheus saulosi. Especially if there’s a breeding female and still without. Super aggressive

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Mbuna. No fish is more territorial.

  • @ed68cougnut
    @ed68cougnut 4 роки тому +1

    100% agreed.

  • @jeffb5785
    @jeffb5785 2 роки тому

    Labidochromis Caeruleus, Yellow with a black stripe dorsal fin are not very aggressive except when breeding but most animals and people are too under those conditions.......LOL I had very good success breeding them.

  • @joseCalderon1976
    @joseCalderon1976 11 місяців тому

    I've had a male Auratus in my 75g African chiclid tank. Bad idea. I had to remove him.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  11 місяців тому

      That fish should come with a danger warning 🤣

  • @pedrosepulveda7061
    @pedrosepulveda7061 4 роки тому +4

    I've been lucky all my Venustus have been peaceful, and also my Compressiceps, to me auratus should be always number one, aggressive haps and peacocks rarely kill, they nip fins and give you time to save the bullied fish, auratus kill in a second.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +2

      Agree. Some fish try to remove another fish from a territory. The Auratus just wants to kill.

  • @thomaslanders6244
    @thomaslanders6244 4 роки тому +1

    I used to keep/breed many rare and WC West African Cichlids. Both Pelvicachromis Humilis (had Liberia Red) and Chromidotilapia Guntheri ‘Loenberghi are as aggressive and nasty as any cichlid I have kept. They both only get about 4-4.5”.. Obviously, many Hemichromis are nasty too. I was a mod on a huge fish keeping group and still active. I remember when many Malawi fish were first being imported in late 70’s/early 80’s. Colorful but never liked them. Now,, many are all being crossbred, it’s a shame. I still keep 100’s of books/magazines from 40’s-80’s so I know what fish are supposed to look like.
    People should keep adult Malawi (if not breeding) at 75 degs to keep aggression down. Juveniles at 77 degs.

  • @uranlynch3127
    @uranlynch3127 2 місяці тому

    I've been in the hobby just one year and had to rehome 2 Mbumas, they're so mean to all the other fish, I want a peaceful tank, I'll never get anymore of those fish.

  • @shelbyvillecichlids1589
    @shelbyvillecichlids1589 2 роки тому

    Iv had a red shoulder that was a complete jerk and

  • @CLU7CHxCl7Y
    @CLU7CHxCl7Y 2 роки тому

    red empers i had to get rid of he kept 12 cichlids in the corner tore up all there fins he was the worse yet for me really really aggressive

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  2 роки тому

      Protomelas like Red Empress and Tangerine Tigers can be jerks

  • @seansquill8773
    @seansquill8773 3 роки тому

    I don’t know man...I decided on a Lemon Jake 🍋 to add to my 75 and one of my OB’s who’s half the size is not having it 🤣🤦🏻‍♂️ Mean while the Venustus and Livingstoni aren’t even paying any attention to him🤷🏻‍♂️

  • @jeffyoudes2610
    @jeffyoudes2610 Рік тому

    I started with six small cichlids with one being a male venustus and another a female venustus and also an African knife years ago. As the male venustus got to 2 1/2 inches he started killing off all the other cichlids including the venustus female. We had isolated him, redesigned the tank and tried integrating him again to no avail. Once he ended up in a tank by himself permanently he'd look me in the eye and you could feel him saying "You're next." LOL. I stopped keeping fish because of that monster.

  • @123bizzyboy
    @123bizzyboy 4 роки тому +1

    If doing ties you might want to put the Livingstoni with the Venustus.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      My Livingstonii's have been a bit mellow. The venustus has been the only nimbochromis that has given me a problem. Fusco, polystigma, livingstonii and linni have all been okay.

    • @123bizzyboy
      @123bizzyboy 4 роки тому

      @@BenOchart my Livingstoni has been pretty good lately but has been in timeout tank three different times and one of the times because he was being pretty ruthless with every fish in the tank. So we will see what the future holds lol.

  • @myrock2272
    @myrock2272 2 роки тому

    Auratus is the most fearce fighter. Neolamprologus Tetracanthus when dominant will have all the fish in the corners. I've had other Neos bite my arm when cleaning the tank. I can't see them with any other fish when guarding their young. I had the nerve to have Neos and Mbuna in a 75. Geeze! The back and forth dominance⁰

  • @Remsterdam
    @Remsterdam 4 роки тому +2

    Jacobfreibergi... now he tells me! Too late lol. Beautiful fish though I enjoy him very much 😃

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Maybe you got lucky and have a mellow one?

    • @Remsterdam
      @Remsterdam 4 роки тому

      He just got pretty dominant since I added a sunshine and a Rubin red. But just fin display and chasing so I will see how it develops as I’m still stocking the tank slowly.

  • @nielsm6961
    @nielsm6961 4 роки тому

    LOL i have all the fish on this list in one 140 gallon tank. Accept for the mbuma's. I kind of agree with the first 4 fish on here. But I have always had fire haps because there my favourite Malawi's. And I would say there pretty docile in my experience. Docile but no pushover. I guess Ben is a bit unlucky with them 😅

    • @TheTradesmanLU2001
      @TheTradesmanLU2001 4 роки тому

      My Fire hap/red empress (aren’t they the same)? is an absolute madman! He thrashes my adult male Venustus on the regular. He is extremely aggressive to the point where I’m constantly having to remove him and i have contemplated re homing Him. He’s such a beautiful fish that I just can’t let him go. He tolerates absolutely no other fish in my aquariums .

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      He's the only Fire Hap I've had. Do you have several in the tank? That might be causing a change in attitude.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Red Empress and Fire Haps are not the same fish. Very different in shape and color.

    • @nielsm6961
      @nielsm6961 4 роки тому

      @@BenOchart i really think each cichlid has its own unique character. I love all protomelas species because in my experience there pretty docile and beautiful. But I also had an absolute alpha red empress. He dominated much bigger fish but without real aggression. Much like your venustus. I personally had a bad experience with the rostratus. This was an absolute psycho but this was 10 years ago. I now have a young one and this one seems to be really shy almost. The only real constant in my experience is the venustus. Me and a friend had 3 of them and there always dominant fish but never a real problem. Like you always say: cichlids, never a dull moment!

  • @paulone65
    @paulone65 4 роки тому

    I had a Bumblebee that was real friendly until he was the largest fish in the tank, and then became a killing machine

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      I've heard that over and over again about bumblebees. They should sell them with a warning label.

  • @andre2679
    @andre2679 2 роки тому

    The hawk is the worst in my experience. They CONSTANTLY size up fish to try to eat. Even if they can’t swallow a fish, they still mouth it and damage them to the point that they can’t survive afterwords.

  • @adamlewis2840
    @adamlewis2840 2 роки тому

    Lombardi are up there in my opinion

  • @jeffb5785
    @jeffb5785 2 роки тому +1

    Auratus is the nastiest fish I ever had in 35 years of fish keeping, the eye biter as you called him is a Compressiceps.

  • @sanjaynaikwad359
    @sanjaynaikwad359 3 роки тому

    Today, I went to a new fish store and they CLAIMED that it was a red empress but when I did research, it showed that it was a fire hap!

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  3 роки тому

      Sometimes people we trust and that should know, don't really know what they're talking about...

  • @jonathanparker5375
    @jonathanparker5375 2 роки тому

    Freakin green terror was my worst of the worst.

  • @PULAG
    @PULAG Рік тому +1

    Why do some larger fish let smaller ones bully them?

    • @bflo1000
      @bflo1000 Рік тому

      They are just big dummies.

  • @victorrexach3183
    @victorrexach3183 4 роки тому +1

    And I thought my Bumblebee was being a bully...

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +1

      I hear a lot of stories about bumblebees being jerks. I've never owned one.

  • @michaelsghosthuntingteam2981
    @michaelsghosthuntingteam2981 3 роки тому

    Red zebra and Venustus

  • @ricodegallo3060
    @ricodegallo3060 4 роки тому +1

    👍

  • @ericwarren6912
    @ericwarren6912 2 роки тому

    My Fusco is out of control..

  • @shawngatewood3673
    @shawngatewood3673 4 роки тому +1

    I totally agree with your list....I recently had to depart with a beautiful venusus.....I actually missed him,he was way too agressive,he was somewhat of a serial k÷×*$#$@^!

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +1

      Been there. When you get one with an attitude, they can be beautiful, always fired up, but a terror to tankmates.

    • @shawngatewood3673
      @shawngatewood3673 4 роки тому

      @@BenOchart ....I had a blue compressorcept( M.eyebiter)also....beautiful fish,but mean as hell...he/she luved live crickets..I noticed when they get big then the attitude starts!!

  • @mellowsohype
    @mellowsohype 4 роки тому +2

    You’re a Phillies fan?!??

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +1

      My son is a batting coach for the Phillies (but I bleed Dodger Blue)

    • @mellowsohype
      @mellowsohype 4 роки тому +1

      Ben Ochart that’s awesome man im from philly so I seen the Phillies hat and had to ask lol

  • @lisafoster4468
    @lisafoster4468 3 роки тому +1

    It seems that you're rolling the dice with any cichlid, with some species simply offering better odds.

  • @HalfManHalfCichlid
    @HalfManHalfCichlid 4 роки тому +2

    I love the colors of Africans and will always have one show tank with them. Over the years the aggression is moving me quickly to New World cichlids which are peaceful, longer lived and have pleasant personalities one can interact with. Surprisingly beautiful colors are available- and for both males and females from these cichlids too- but it requires more research. If you want aggression you can find it too..

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому +1

      That's a cichlid type I hope to get into at some point.

  • @Kay13Jay
    @Kay13Jay 2 роки тому

    Haha! I can only imagine the circuitry in that brain...

  • @alitweed2164
    @alitweed2164 3 роки тому

    I’ve got a red empress that owns 50% of my 125, he’s beautiful but a jerk of a fish

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  3 роки тому +1

      Protomelas can be very aggressive. That Fire Hap I had was a beast and a bully. If it wasn't for the Venustus keeping him in check he would have terrorized the tank.

  • @inventoryking
    @inventoryking 4 роки тому +1

    Demasoni For sure!

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Never owned one but I've heard the horror stories. In the same league as bumblebee and auratus.

  • @miked6335
    @miked6335 4 роки тому +3

    I thought fish keeping was supposed to be a relaxing hobby!

    • @juliodominguez2490
      @juliodominguez2490 4 роки тому +1

      Yeah, if you have goldfish😆

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      It's usually relaxing ... but there are moments!

    • @miked6335
      @miked6335 4 роки тому

      @@juliodominguez2490 Only when I'm not battling bullfrogs, raccoons and herons!

    • @juliodominguez2490
      @juliodominguez2490 4 роки тому

      @@miked6335 good point there😎

  • @jamjul40
    @jamjul40 3 роки тому +1

    Convicts

  • @cjcichlidsbailes1346
    @cjcichlidsbailes1346 4 роки тому +1

    Funny enough my ob is a complete a🐟🐟 lol he thinks he can fight everyone even the livinstonii venustus and eye bitter he looses against them but thinks he can take them 😂😂

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Like a small dog. No concept of his size, just a big attitude, LOL.

    • @BenOchart
      @BenOchart  4 роки тому

      Like a small dog. No concept of his size, just a big attitude, LOL.

    • @cjcichlidsbailes1346
      @cjcichlidsbailes1346 4 роки тому

      That's right brain squeezes against the head and thinks he is some boy haha

  • @craigbroderick8935
    @craigbroderick8935 4 роки тому +1

    First

  • @MsDazza12
    @MsDazza12 4 роки тому

    Ben I have a Zebra obliquiden and he is currently terrorising my tank to the point where I am seriously considering rehoming him.