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Thread: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

  1. #1
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    Smile Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    I have recently started my first Discus Tank and things were going well for the 7-10 days. All 6 new fish were shy initially but were gradually settling in. As the 6 new Discus became more comfortable and the pecking order started developing, one of the Pigeon bloods started picking on a Golden Diamond and Mellon discus especially during feeding times. The Mellon has been holding his own but the Golden Diamond is now hiding in the back of the tank, head down, and has totally stopped eating. He comes out to swim with the group occasionally but as I indicated looks distressed. As a result he/she is not developing and has lost a lot of color compared to 7-10 days ago. I do not see anything wrong with him physically but he is obviously not doing well compared to the other 5. The others are growing, eating aggressively and developing their typical behaviors.

    65 Gallon Tank - 6 Discus are the only current Inhabitants
    Water Parameters are good Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10
    33% Water Changes Daily (so far)

    What can be done here...
    Suggestions.??

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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    Take him out and put him in a quarantine tank. Raise the temp to 90 and add a couple tablespoons of salt. Do a daily WC replenishing the salt each day. When he starts eating, reduce the salt over the course of a few days and get 2 more discus for the QT. In a month, introduce all 3 into the main tank.

    And get (and keep) your main tank nitrates under 5.

    P.S. gravel is bad for discus. Nitrates creep up too quickly and it harbors too much gunk no matter how much you vacuum.
    Last edited by Oxboy; 08-25-2020 at 06:31 PM.

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    Silver Member Iminit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    I just had this problem. I too say to remove either the stressed fish or the bully. Seems the bully is bothering more than one fish. I removed the non eater and put it in a 15 by itself /with a cory and SAE. Temp in high 80s and it started eating as soon as it was added. Kept it in there for a few weeks than moved to a bigger tank with it old tank mates and all is fine. I didn’t add the salt. I didn’t need it.

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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    Quote Originally Posted by Iminit View Post
    I just had this problem. I too say to remove either the stressed fish or the bully. Seems the bully is bothering more than one fish. I removed the non eater and put it in a 15 by itself /with a cory and SAE. Temp in high 80s and it started eating as soon as it was added. Kept it in there for a few weeks than moved to a bigger tank with it old tank mates and all is fine. I didn’t add the salt. I didn’t need it.
    Supposedly the salt destresses.

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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    The aforementioned advices are good ones, Wayne.

  6. #6
    Silver Member Iminit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    Oxboy I do use salt. But first or just use clean water. If after a few days and it’s still not eating than salt. For me it’s just been clean warmer water.

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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    If it was me, I would not remove this fish as it can cause additional stress moving to another tank. I would be changing the tank decor to reset any territories, and upping the water changes. To me, removing fish from their familiar environment is a last resort. I would also be looking to remove or change your substrate as this will cause health issues in future.
    21 Discus, 7 Green Tree Frogs, 3 Eastern Dwarf Tree frogs, 1 Coastal Carpet Python,6 sawshelled/Murray river turtles, 2 dogs, a cat, 2 kids and a wife. Phew...what a mouthful


    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    Thanks for your recommendations. I will give it a try.

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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    Thanks

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    Smile Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    Thanks to all for the recommendations. I will give them a try. They agree with my thoughts as well. No one has mentioned any medication. Would there be any value here as a precaution?

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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    Always a challenge with no right answer. Helps to make a hiding place with plants. Usually stops.


    Things that don't work:
    Chase aggressor with a stick
    Flash aggressor with flash light
    Knock on the tank

  12. #12
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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    I say no to medication. It’s just stress. Clean warm 88 water will get him back. Your fish look great and strong. Even the stressed one. I do believe with a little time by itself it will start eating again. Where did you get your discus?

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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    The fish are from Golden State Discus

  14. #14
    Silver Member Iminit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    They have some great looking discus. So I’m thinking it’s just stress. Put him in his own tank and see how he does. Remember all your fish were in different tanks a the sellers. So they’ve all been shipped and now thrown in with each other. So the pecking order starts right up and some fish being still stressed fall behind. A new start in its own tank for about a month should get it back on track. Good luck.

  15. #15
    Silver Member Willie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Aggressive Behavior Impacting Tank Mates (What to do?)

    Discus are cichlids and setting up a pecking order is classic cichlid behavior. If you take out one fish, you'll see a lot of aggression as a new pecking order is developed. If you put in one fish, the same thing happen. Unlike some cichlids, discus aggression seldom lead to injury or death. The fish on the bottom of the totem pole may end up hiding behind a filter tube or sponge, but they seldom get beaten up.

    With time, the fish with the short end of the stick may get stunted due to constant harassment. Because the pecking order is not rigid, having many discus will spread out the aggression over multiple fish. However, aggression is to be assumed - particularly in young (~4") discus. Having a large aquarium will also ease the level of harassment. As discus matures, aggressive behavior is less apparent except for mated pairs. Putting large discus in a smaller tank seldom causes problems with aggression.
    At my age, everything is irritating.

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