Aggression Issue - 4 Lenticulata

[WillieWonka]

Hi. Looking for some suggestions. I have 4 lents around the the 9 inch mark in a 5 ft long 120 gal.
First question is at what size does the adult coloration show up? Would they show all their adult colors at this size? I have one that is showing a whitish line through the dorsal fin, where the other 3 are all more solid.

More importantly, 2 of them are holding under the fake log in the center of the tank (in the right of the pic), and are harassing the other 2 to the point that I'm afraid one or more will end up floating. The 2 that are being harassed also seem to get along together.

My question is, is it best to separate all 4 into different tanks? or leave 2 in this tank and put the other 2 into a different tank? What is the minimum tank size for a single pike or a pair?

How do you tell when two fish pair off?

 

[Taz2478]

if it's 2 on 2 then get another 100g+ and put the other two in there.

sometimes moving a pr might disrupt the pr so have a divider ready as well.

55g would prob be smallest for 1.

 

[WillieWonka]

Thanks.. took your advice and split them up. I left 2 in the 125 and put the other 2 in a 108 (had to do some serious rearranging). I figured it might come to that but was hoping that they would get along as they did look good as a group while they were getting along. Hopefully, I split them up the way they were grouped. I think so, but hard enough just to catch let alone chose which one.

Does anyone have an answer as to the coloring at this size or what they act like when they actually form a bonded pair.


Thanks again.. Fred

 

[Taz2478]

look around, you'll see that females usually have the white stripe in the dorsal and a bonded pr are just that. together always from free swimming to eating and protecting their area.

get some good pics and someone will tell ya if possible.