Aggression issues (ocell and mono)

[biguebs]

I just acquired a couple of young PB, one is a mono and the other an ocell. Ocell is about 2", Mono is about 3".

After a week or two of owning them, I have noticed a couple of things:

1) The fish are incredibly skittish when I am present. I can drop food and turn off the lights in the room, they will start pecking at it after a minute or two (they are eating frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp). Won't eat all of it, but some of it. I'm trying to avoid live feeders, I have read how hard it is to get them off live once they start. Probably an acclimation thing, but it surprised me just how skittish they are.

2) The ocell, despite being smaller, appears to be highly aggressive and if I sit in the room for awhile (long enough for them to forget about me), he will take runs at the mono and force him into a corner of the tank. No physical damage to the mono, but I assume if it continues then it will result in some injury (or a tortured life).

I will figure out how to get them eating/being skittish, I'm sure thats just a matter of time and finding what they like. However, I am concerned with the aggression. Anything I can do here besides house them separately (which I am currently unable to do)??

 

[The True Guapote]

How big is the tank? One of my Orinos was picking at the other 2 but I added 3 silver dollars and they're distracting them pretty good

 

[gangster]

Fish usually do better as 1 or 3 or more together. Add atleast one more bass as well as some dither fish to make them less skittish.

 

[oscarfishguy]

Having more than two fish will spread the aggression out and prevent the tortured life that you fear for your mono. Another bass would be great, but some dither fish will work well also. Just be careful as they may end up as food when the bass mature. Good luck!

 

[biguebs]

Thanks, I think I'm going to try some dither fish. Since I posted I have been reading up some, that seems to be my best (and most cost effective) option. According to another post in this same forum, it looks like silver dollars are a popular choice. I also saw tin foils, but those get too large I think. I think adding another PB would be irresponsible of me, I already need to house adequatley two of these eventual monsters!

They are currently residing in a 55 gal (grow out/quarantine). I know about the "law of 2", I was hoping to integrate them into a large tank with my 6" oscar in a few months to make the 3rd, just didn't think they would be this aggressive so early! Oscar is in a 60 gal by himself. Wanted to introduce them all to their permanent home at the same time to avoid any "established territory" issues. Was waiting until they were large enough to not be food for the oscar...