Acaras keep chasing each other

[Diamond]

Hi
I bought 2 blue acaras, thats what they said they where in the shop, but they look identical to a Gold Saum, or Green Terror.
Anyway i bought 2, 2 weeks ago, and since then the female has laid eggs the male came along and fertilized them. She guarded them with her life, didnt let anything near. They hatched a couple of days later, then they where free swimming for a few days, unfortunatley none servived :cry: we wernt expecting her to lay eggs at all.
Since Sunday, the female has been coming out more, swimming around, but since then the male has been really aggressive towards her, they both fight, gills flair out and there jaws lock and there butting each others behinds, they constantly chase each other. Are they ready to mate again do you think or is he just being aggressive towards her, i think he could end up killing her if were not careful, they are both in my 50 gallon tank with plenty of rocks and plants etc. My other fish seem on edge, they cant swim around happily.
What does anyone suggest i do, and why are they so aggressive towards one another.

[Rudy]

Probably as the fry did not survive the time frame got shorter and the male is ready to mate again. The female is not. How bad is it. If he is just chasing her and she has some hiding spots that the male cant get her they should be o.k. Otherwise you may have to seperate them. Try some small pvc elbows, or pipe from a hardware store.

Good luck

[Rex Karr]

Rudy's right. How big are the Acara's (Green terrors)? What else is in the tank and how big are they?

[Rex Karr]

And about the I.D. of your fish. There are mayby 6 species being sold as Green Terrors, Gold Saums, and Aequidens Rivulatus. And there are many look-a-likes that could be mistaken for this fish. And to make things even more confusing hybridizing has very likely accured in several stocks. So identifying your fish may prove to be difficult, then again it could be very simple. If you could post a pic we will try or best to help with that also.

[Diamond]

Hi
Im affraid i dont have a scanner, so i cant send a pic, they are beautiful fish though.
What i thought i might do is in a few weeks i am going to buy a 25/30 gallon tank, I thought i might put the pair in there after its cycled which shouldnt take to long, i will put all the gravel from my other tanks, rocks etc into the new tank, so there will be plenty of useful bacteria for the new tank, to cycle quickly.
Then they can breed happily together (hopefully) i will make plenty of hideing places and lots of caves and plants etc. So they can live together happily.
What other fish could i have in this size tank apart from the acaras, or whatever they are?

[Rex Karr]

Thats a good idea, as long as they are Blue Acara's and not Green Terrors. Because Green Terrors can get very big.

I wouldn't add any bottom dwellers such as catfish and loaches, because they will eat the eggs and fry. Larger tetras such a Columbian Tetras would be an excellent choice.