Angry Discus...

[aquartos]

Hi there,

I just purchased 4 discus the other day to add to my display tank. The existing fish in there is a large RT, 2 medium red whites and a 6-7cm blue diamond.

The discus that I added this week are around the 5 - 8cm mark and are 2 pigeons and 2 blue diamonds.

The problem that I am having is that the old blue diamond is bashing up 2 smaller pigeons and one of the new blue diamonds I introduced...

The bashed blue diamond is coping a fair beating and his fins are getting damaged fast.

I am thinking of either taking out the bashed blue diamond and placing him in a holding tank (12X18X18 tank), or take out the basher (healthy) blue diamond and leave him in the holding tank, until the bashed
one settles in… What do you think I should do?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Shev


http://www.users.bigpond.com/jajay/fish/newold.jpg

http://www.users.bigpond.com/jajay/fish/bashedone.jpg

[benjohnson]

They are going to be sorting out the pecking order , so to be honest taking them out and re introducing them could quite well prolong this, as at some time or another they are going to have this spat to decide who is boss.

It will settle down eventually, Obviously if it gets too bad and "the basher" wont leave them alone no matter what , then I suggest you take the agreesive fish out as opposed to the new fish. The new fish has had enough strain on him without being moved to yet another new home to just be moved back again, whereas the other one has settled in and needs to have some time on the naughty step perhaps ;-)

HTH

Ben

[aquartos]

Good call Ben... I think ill have to wait and see.

I was reading about lady reds advice on the 40lp fish... Looks like ill have to take out the basher eventually... even though he has the nicest red eyes and least damage out of the blues i have. :cry:

The ones that actually started all of this is my red and whites! But they are way too nice to move out...

[benjohnson]

Those blues you got look pretty nice too though , especially the new one, hasnt lost his colour through stress really either!

I have a red turq who is particularly agressive towards everyone else, but its because he is most definately the alpha fish. When I bought him he was the smallest of the lot, and he has now out grown most of them in the space of about 6 months !!! Has turned intot he most b eautiful coloured fish though , almost metallic with red bits in him , and I just cant get rid of him !!

Hope your situation works out !!

Ben

[aquartos]

Thanks Ben,

Its always the pretty ones that cause the most trouble in your life! :wink:
Ill keep you posted on the progress...

Cheers,

Shev

[*Chris*]

flush them :lol: :lol:

[Ben]

Shev i love your diagram mate!

Keep them well fed with lots of good water changes.

They should be fine.

Ben

[Bad Inferno]

If it gets really bad you can try a partition. This then still allows both fish to at least establish a teritory. I had this in place for 3 months and now the agressive fish is the weaker one.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/rjconway/IMG_0049.jpg

[Bad Inferno]

Oh bugger

try
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/rjconway/IMG_0049.jpg

cheers

rob

[aquartos]

Thanks for the tips rob...
Your discus look awesome BTW!

Well for the time being, i have taken Bens (Head chef) advice and just let them settle in... now they seem to not fight as much.

The pigeons actually come out and even though the there is a little fighting, no one is hiding or being bashed to the point of major fin damage.

Thanks to all for your help!
Cheers,

Shev