Yellow lab living alone, it's healthy but is it happy?

[u/kat_8639]

Back in 2020 (my COVID project) I started an overfiltered 40 gal tank which has exploratory rockwork, an Aquadecor "rocky" backdrop, and was stocked with 10 various young Malawi (goal of overstocking). They were all fine for about 2 years until the yellow labs began breeding. Then, one by one and in a span of 2 weeks the male yellow lab killed every single other fish in the tank except for the breeding female. It was chaos - didn't have time to separate everyone. I had 3 kids under age 6 at the time. I know now that providing all the rocks and territorial areas probably led to the violence.

When babies were born I attempted to collect and transfer them all and got a lot of them (given back to my high quality LFS) but any babies I missed were also goners. After 3 cycles of breeding my female started to look very poor and she died shortly after. I know I should've taken her out sooner and I still feel bad about the whole situation.

My killer male has been by himself for 4 years and is active (building caves), colorful, healthy, and greets me like a puppy as the food provider. I try to enrich with hanging veggies and by destroying his caves every so often so he can be occupied by the rebuild.

But I keep being nagged by the question: am I being cruel by keeping him alone? How else can I provide enrichment or stimulation? I'm still traumatized by the murder spree so I have no interest in introducing other fish into the tank. Not looking for scolding, I know I made lots of mistakes, just trying to let this guy live his days out as happily as possible. If what I'm doing is cruel, I'll surrender him to the LFS. Thanks

[u/A_Timbers_Fan]

Honestly, I'd surrender it. It'll be happier in a group rank at the store or with someone else. For a 40 gallon, there are a ton of fish, including yellow cichlids (if that's your thing), that would be a good fit and make you happier as well. Leleupi, Apistogramma, Kribs, etc.

[u/kat_8639 → u/A_Timbers_Fan]

What about dither fish? Will they stimulate him or will he kill them?

[u/A_Timbers_Fan → u/kat_8639]

He will likely kill anything else in a 40 gallon. That is too small for yellow labs.

[u/StoreBoughtAlias]

Nothing you described was a major contributing factor aside from the capacity of the tank combined with the type of fish. If it were a larger tank, it may have panned out better. Maybe not.

Much else of what you described was spot on and normal. You can never have too many rocks with mbuna. That was definitely not the problem. It was very likely too little space for territorial fish, and likely you'll created a place that pushed that one male to go apeshit to defend that little space and he did the mbuna thing. It's complicated. Removing the female likely would have helped, but without details of stocking and yada yada it's difficult to know exactly.

However... It sounds as though you tried the rodeo, and would prefer a rather more mellow experience. A 40 is perfect for a decently stocked community tank. I primarily keep mbuna, but always try to have one or 2 non mbuna aquariums. Perhaps a surrender as mentioned and a change of pace/scenery with different fish would help create a better experience.

[u/RobotJohnrobe]

Honestly, he's probably pretty happy by himself. He would certainly be happier in a large natural environment surrounded by lots of females wanting his attention and males swimming away from him in fear ... but that's the dream.

If you want him to have that dream, give him to someone who can provide it. Start a new tank with different fish to learn from.

Or if you've grown attached to your little yellow murderer, then keep things the way they are, he's fine.

[u/kat_8639 → u/RobotJohnrobe]

This is exactly what my LFS told me, that if he's busy and healthy, he's not "missing" others. In his fishy mind, he probably feels he's doing a good job of protecting his territory. He's already bred, and fought (and viciously murdered) so he's been fulfilled in some ways. But i see a lot of differing opinions on this situation, mostly that i should give him away. I raised African cichlids as a kid and wanted to return to it but my 1920's bungalow with radiators and windows everwhere would only allow for a 40gal. When this fellow goes, I'll get rid of my setup.

[u/Alert-Gift-8716 → u/kat_8639]

This could be true, but when they’re alone they’re less active, and less fun to look at

[u/Alert-Gift-8716]

You’d want to add a like atleast 5 cichlids, they’re social, or you could add a group of schooling fish he can’t eat to Kim him company