Discus are fighting

[delta5]

They been doing this rubbing each other thing for a few hours. As soon as the lights are near down to just the moon light setting one starts chasing the other one around the tank. Keeps bumping into her. Then they stay on opposite sides of the tank. The one I assume to be the male will eventually venture back over to her and try again.

[discuspaul]

But nobody's getting hurt right ? They're just having fun with each other - their idea of being romantic ?

[delta5]

But nobody's getting hurt right ? They're just having fun with each other - their idea of being romantic ?

No injuries. I don't think he is biting at her. Just using his mouth to push against her, but then sometimes she darts around really fast. I turned off the auto mode to my light and have it set really low so I can observe.

[John_Nicholson]

Animals fight. It is completely normal. What I find odd is that people expect then not too. Fighting is a very important tool in nature. In all of my years of keeping discus I have never separated fish for this reason. I just let nature work it out.

-john

[Phillydubs]

Delta, is this the "pair" or possible pair you think you have? That is fighting?

John- I know you are big on leaving it alone and I strongly agree... Have you ever noticed a pattern or time frame that is "normal" for sorting things out... Thankfully I have never had any major issues with this, just curious in your experience if you usually see a timeframe where the dust settles and all is well or it depends on the set-up, strain, environmental factors, etc...

[delta5]

Delta, is this the "pair" or possible pair you think you have? That is fighting?

John- I know you are big on leaving it alone and I strongly agree... Have you ever noticed a pattern or time frame that is "normal" for sorting things out... Thankfully I have never had any major issues with this, just curious in your experience if you usually see a timeframe where the dust settles and all is well or it depends on the set-up, strain, environmental factors, etc...

Yes, but they're back to rubbing each other's underside. No torn fins or missing scales.

[DISCUS STU]

It's animal and human nature to fight. Unless they're injuring each other or one is being incredibly stressed to the point of not being allowed to eat or illness, I wouldn't worry about it very much.

Aggression in Discus isn't necessarily gender related. This could be an aggressive female, there's no good way to tell, 50/50, unless you know the gender of the fish. Some of the most aggressive fish I've ever had were females.

[Goldenmelondiscus]

I noticed last week that my biggest discus was guarding the frozen food I dropped in the tank. I have since solved the problem but thawing the cube in a cup of warm water and using a turkey baster to distribute the food. It works, but the bigger of my discus still chases the smaller one around. They both eat.

[Akili]

I noticed last week that my biggest discus was guarding the frozen food I dropped in the tank. I have since solved the problem but thawing the cube in a cup of warm water and using a turkey baster to distribute the food. It works, but the bigger of my discus still chases the smaller one around. They both eat.Good to know another use of a turkey baster

[delta5]

It's animal and human nature to fight. Unless they're injuring each other or one is being incredibly stressed to the point of not being allowed to eat or illness, I wouldn't worry about it very much.

Aggression in Discus isn't necessarily gender related. This could be an aggressive female, there's no good way to tell, 50/50, unless you know the gender of the fish. Some of the most aggressive fish I've ever had were females.

Is the male usually smaller than the female?

[John_Nicholson]

No.

-john

[Len]

No.

-john

John, could you just get to the point? You're so long winded lol

[delta5]

If I go off size and the dorsal fin having a point, then the male is harassing the female.When he does this he loses his strips and sometimes becomes dark. It's like she is into the foreplay, but then it goes south really quick.

[MD.David]

John,
I just wanted to say thanks for being so active on a forum like this, I notice you are so active in giving guidance to so many.
A person like you certainly add benifits to so many lives... (And discus lives as well).
Hope you have a great weekend.

Cheers!

John, could you just get to the point? You're so long winded lol