Do they allways pick on each other?

[thomasasalvatore]

Just wondering if they allways pick on each other, seems to be a lot of it lately. Thanks Tom.

[Cabe]

Not always, but the will most of the time if you don't have 6 or more.

[thomasasalvatore]

Yeah I only have 5.

[DISCUS STU]

There's usually a hierarchy and some aggression even in groups of 6. It depends on the group. Usually 6 is the safe number, even 5, to have the aggression dispersed.

[thomasasalvatore]

Its not real bad. The one big one will chase all the small ones. The smaller ones pick on each other as well. Sometimes it will go on for a good ten minutes or so.

[discuspaul]

It's just normal, ongoing pecking order establishment. It'll generally be an on & off kind of thing, in many cases lasting their whole lifetimes. Being cichlids, it's a natural behavioural trait.

[thomasasalvatore]

Thanks Paul. I think I kinda knew that but sometimes its crazy. Tom

[OC Discus]

My largest chased the rest for maybe a few months. They've been together about a year and he now does very little chasing. But it seems someone is always chasing someone. Two in particular get chased the most, but no one has ever been injured.


Its not real bad. The one big one will chase all the small ones. The smaller ones pick on each other as well. Sometimes it will go on for a good ten minutes or so.

[zachawry]

Sometimes it's just chemistry.

I had one fish that was constantly being bullied by the biggest of the group. To the extent that it was just unpleasant to watch. I returned it to the store, then a few weeks later bought another of the same (smaller) size. No bullying, and everybody happy.

Sure there is still the normal pecking-order dynamics you'll always see, but for me getting rid of that one fish fixed things.

[Rudustin]

I get concerned if there isn't some squabbling particularly at feeding time. It is so natural for discus to establish territory and a pecking order. I have a new ninety gallon tank with six adult Altum Floras. Two females and four males. It can get very chaotic but it calms down.

[tonytheboss1]

:bandana: In a word YES!

[candymancan]

Yes they do specially if you only have 2 or 3.. Like others said the more the better.. That or if you introduce a new discus to the group they will all pick on eachother for like 3-4 days I noticed and then it usually stops..

I have 8 discus all 2-3 inches in my tank and it seems the more you have the better.. I started off small at first because of the prices.. even at $40 or 20 for 1 2 or 3 inch discus is a lot.. First I got 1 then 2 then 3.. then 5 then 6 and 8..

[Skip]

younger fish tend to be more aggressive than older fish.. sans breeding pairs

[Clarkey]

Mine definitely have a pecking order, I found the more I had in the tank, the less stressed they seem to be

[XAnhLe]

In the beginning, they will pick on each other very often. Overtime, once the pecking order is established, they will be much more peaceful. With an occasional "tag", they don't harm each other.