Who is nipping fins

[leskoluke]

I've got a 250 gallon tank with a few large predators in it and I'm noticing the past few weeks that some of my fishes fins are getting more and more nipped, especially my large Jardini. I've got a few peacock bass who have torn fins as well. At first I thought it was either my small pacu or my silver dollars, but the only fish who seem unbothered are the catfish. I have 3 vulture catfish that are around 8-10" as well as one 12" Asian Upside down catfish. I've read that vultures aren't generally too agressive so is it possible that the upside down catfish has been beating on the other fish?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Asian USD cats are a hit and miss. Some can be awful while others are well behaved. I don't know why and haven't met a convincing explanation for it. My specimen killed some fish and bit others, earning itself a spot in the jerk tank of outcasts.

Pacu is another quite plausible candidate, unless its fins are just as torn up. Silver dollars could in principle do it too, less likely but not impossible.

Vultures wouldn't do it. This would be unheard of from all we know about the captive ones.

Jardini can give more than it receives. I am surprised it's been included. Sounds like an exception to the rule, your jardini is... must be pretty mellow for one.

 

[moe214]

You have a tank full of territorial fish. Get used to nipped fins or rethink the stock is the only two options unfortunately. As mentioned jars are usually bad tempered so I assume yours is under 12" ifnits being bullied. I'd pretty much agree with everything TBTB said.

 

[leskoluke]

I removed the Asian USD and trhe jars fins are healing up already. My jar is actually just over 12" but he is very mellow, he only hates one of my peacock bass but doesn't really go after it very hard.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I removed the Asian USD and trhe jars fins are healing up already. My jar is actually just over 12" but he is very mellow, he only hates one of my peacock bass but doesn't really go after it very hard.

Great. So this one goes into the Asian USD catfish dossier?

Beware of pecking order reshuffling and behavioral changes in the remaining tank mates. Fish that were mellow before now suddenly can get aggressive.

 

[J. H.]

an exception to the rule, your jardini is

LOL

 

[leskoluke]

100% was the Asian USD. Jars fins have almost healted all the way up and no other fish have damaged fins anymore.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

100% was the Asian USD. Jars fins have almost healted all the way up and no other fish have damaged fins anymore.

Yeah, as I stated, I've no clue why some of them are mean while others are mellow. But when they are mean, boy they can be really nasty.