Sudden aggression from my dat

[Xeno]

Hey,
For the past 4 years I've been growing out a Datnioides microlepis.
It currently is a little over 8in long and it is starting to attack my bichir whenever they are swimming around.
I really don't want to sell my dat so maybe dither fishes are the way to go?
The tank is a 6ft by 31.5in by 2ft 228g housing several Polypterus my datnoid and an Osphronemus laticlavius (which I might rehome).
The only dither fish I can think about that could work are tinfoil barbs.
What do you think?

 

[Trouser Bark]

I've had several dats over the years and several tinfoils as well. The dither fish concept is a little elusive for me and it's been my experience that when I have a fish that's a jerk he's probably not going to change just because there are other large and active annoyances in the tank. I'd never considered that there might even be such a concept until I logged back on here a few months ago and heard the term several times.

Tinfoils are quick, cheap and worth a try.

 

[Midwater]

I am not sure that dithers work with dats.

Although he is not particularly large yet, the tank is too small.

Try putting in a vertically placed piece of driftwood that he can come close to and merge in with.

 

[Xeno]

Hey,
got five tinfoils in a growout now.
If it works it works if not I have to rehouse the dat, simple as that but no matter how much I love the dat if it attacks my bichirs even after adding more fish in the water column it would not make any sense to keep it.

There is a 1,5 by 22in driftwood inthe right corner.
This dat won't hide at all.
It's the most active specimen I've ever had and very personable, too.
That's why I kept this exact one from the group I had.

Although he is not particularly large yet, the tank is too small.

For what exactly?

 

[Midwater]

For what exactly?

Well, for the dat at least, as it grows. Two foot high is not really quite enough.

 

[Xeno]

Hey,
Oh I'm not worried about that.
I've had it for a little over four years now and it just passed the 8in mark.
If it wouldn't be for the aggression issue I'd be comfortable keeping it in there for it's life time.
I do have access to larger tanks so rehoming wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Midwater]

Tinfoils do go well with dats - if they are big enough. Same sort of origin and water conditions, same sort of size. Different sort of food.

Not sure about the term 'dither', but I have a bunch of orange cheek barbs with my dats. You could even try mud carp.