Convict cichlids nipping tails! Help!?

Question

This is one of the little gals:

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff321/Brenny_S/cichlid.jpg

Okay. This 55 gallon tank is new and I have 4 convicts in it. I believe only one to be a male. This male is obviously partial to one of the females. He follows her everywhere and doesn't bite her but he treats the others like c**p. He has nipped at two of the other female's tails. What am I supposed to do? I have tried to make the tank appealing to them, and have plenty of things in it to occupy them, such as foliage and caves (3). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

What you're seeing is typical convict cichlid behavior.  Once they pair off they become territorial and aggressive.  Just wait until they mate and start to breed.  The male may go so far as to kill all the other fish in the tank.