Distichodus sexfasciatus

[mattybecks]

Hi guys,
I wasn't sure which group to class this guy as, he didn't seem to fit into any grouping under "other monsterfish".

Does anyone have any experience keeping these guys? I did some research before hand, and the tank mates I chose seemed suitable, and he seemed OK with them for a few days. He seems to have turned violent, particularly against the snakeheads. Some of which are bigger than him (I have 7 channa gaucha) as well as all my birchirs.

My question is will this aggression only get worse until tank mates start dying?

 

[Midwater]

I had one a long time ago. Not too aggressive, but was in a tank with some other monsters.

It looks great when small, but as it gets bigger, its stripes fade, and it just looks redish grey. Not so impressive as you think it may be.

 

[mattybecks]

I had one a long time ago. Not too aggressive, but was in a tank with some other monsters.

It looks great when small, but as it gets bigger, its stripes fade, and it just looks redish grey. Not so impressive as you think it may be.

Thats one of the things I liked it about it, I prefer the grey/silver/tan/plain looking type fish for some reason haha

 

[esoxlucius]

I looked into these a long while ago. I saw some juvies at my LFS and was struck by their beauty.

When I researched them further I soon found out they lose all those beautiful colours as they age, turning a drab boring grey, and they can get huge too!

That alone put me off. But since then I've also discovered that these things can be one of the biggest jerks in the whole hobby. They don't seem to do well with tank mates. Victor has them and he was forever putting them in his "jerk" tank (for fish that don't play well), lol.

It's a real shame. If they stayed a reasonable size, kept those stunning markings and colours, and weren't total maniacs I definitely would have got a small group a long time ago.

Maybe, for peace of mind, you need to house yours in a tank all by itself....and a big tank at that!

 

[FJB]

I had a single D. sexfasciatus and and a single D. lussuoso (long snout) at different times. However, I have never had snakeheads or bichirs.
Nice fish but they are yerks. They will bicker and harass others, but in my case, never inflicting serious injury to other large fish, but causing constant stress and instability. D. lussuoso was more of a yerk in my experience. Also, they will destroy anything green.
Viktor keeps large specimens and he may have better experiences to share about them. IMO they are nice but they should not be considered 'community fish'.
Threads about Distichodus should go into "Other Characins", as that is the group where they belong. In modern views they are considered in their own family, Distichodontidae.

 

[tlindsey]

My question is will this aggression only get worse until tank mates start dying?

I personally wouldn't wait to remove the Distichodus Sexfaciatus.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Hi guys,
I wasn't sure which group to class this guy as, he didn't seem to fit into any grouping under "other monsterfish".

Does anyone have any experience keeping these guys? I did some research before hand, and the tank mates I chose seemed suitable, and he seemed OK with them for a few days. He seems to have turned violent, particularly against the snakeheads. Some of which are bigger than him (I have 7 channa gaucha) as well as all my birchirs.

My question is will this aggression only get worse until tank mates start dying?

These guys are in desperate need of a common name

 

[FJB]

"six-banded Distichodus" is their common name in the trade.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Currently mine seems to behave himself well although is only 7” and is in a bit of a mixed up grow on tank with some calm fish, some barbs and some which could be jerks themselves.
Plan is for him to go join the >2ft black shark in the pond and they can be jerks together. By then the 10” black shark with be joining in too. That could be a lively tank/ pond by then.
I would expect him to only get worse as he grows and the tank starts feeling smaller unless you will be moving him to something bigger as he grows too. That might calm his aggression but it’s a very small might and a very big might not!

 

[mattybecks]

Thanks for all the feedback chaps. Always appreciate the insight from people with the experience.

I re-homed him yesterday, and immediately there was a difference in the tank. Everyone was relaxed and stopped hiding, and I actually got to see the snakeheads free swimming around and not having an empty water coloum anymore. (this is for another thread, but it seems like I might have two pairs forming, as they chose caves yesterday and seemed to be defending their little areas)

The sexy fish (yes, I agree these guys need a more common name lol) hadnt started eating my Anubias or pothos roots yet, but I wasnt going to wait around to see.
I have noticed a lot less snails in the tank too, so I am assuming he might have gone to work and decimated my MTS population too.