stressed bolivian ram

[bblovesae]

hello everyone, I recently set up my 174l tank ( 46 gallons ) and I currently have 4 bolivian rams. 3 of the rams get along great but there is one who is always by himself. when another ram comes up to him he chases them away and that ends up in a quarrel he usually loses. this results in nipped fins and stressed marks all the time. the dominant ram of the tank does chase him sometimes when he comes out of his hiding spot but not as much as he use to. he also hasn't been eating lately. I really need some advice.

I have a 10 gallon tank I can set up for him if he would be fine by himself or with some other small fish.

any advice or input is appreciated!

[RackinRocky]

I am fairly new to cichlids, but if it were me, I'd put him in the 10 gallon by himself, let him settle in for a while, then maybe add one slow moving, placid fish (maybe a mollie or platy?) in case he wants company. One that won't be nippy or try to boss him around. Just a very mellow, sweet fish that won't intimidate him. If this stresses him, then maybe he just needs to be kept by himself, or maybe just with a couple of cories for bottom cleaning would be enough. I'd feel sorry for the little guy if he were mine! I know it can't be fun for him to be living in fear.