Cichlids are generally quite aggressive, primarily exhibiting territorial aggression especially during breeding or when defending resources. Their aggression is mostly directed towards members of the same species or perceived competitors rather than random tankmates. While some large piscivore cichlids can be mild-tempered due to not needing to defend fixed territories, smaller or breeding cichlids tend to be more territorial. Aggression can manifest through ramming, fin damage, and scale loss, which may lead to infections if not managed.