To close Dempsey

Binge

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 12, 2014
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Ohio
So when I got home last night and checked out my tanks my Dempsey has a series of scratches up the front of his face and onto the top of his head. (thankfully missing his eyes). He frequently noses my smaller two Senegal Bichirs out of his way. My guess is he tried this with the largest one I the tank right now (around 9 inches an as thick as my thumb) and got flicked with its spines the scratches are gaped just right for this to be the case.

Hopefully they heal all right treating a 125g gets pricey and he s way to big (11 ish inches) for my10 gallon hospital tank.
 

duanes

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Isla Taboga Panama via Milwaukee
JD (cichlids in general) mating rituals always include battling, this is why it is best to provide a number of females, so no one gets the brunt of aggression.
Even in nature, many individuals have torn fins, scars, and fungus covered lips from the battles. Note the fungus on the lips below in a pic from Cenote Cristalino.

and the torn fins in a short video from a satellite pool near Cenote Azul
 
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