I don't think you need a break. It happens, it's part of the hobby. The fish are probably beginning to feel cramped and can't get away from each other to avoid aggression. A lot of these fish become solitary once large. Yours are getting large.
Armatus checked out today.
- Thread starter DB junkie
- Start date
Sorry for your loss buddy, seems like some of the monster fish really just snap and become axe murderers over night. Seeing the images of the gatf that murdered the dorado and Armatus was a reality check too. I guess ultimately, really requires a small swimming pool size footprint to keep meter plus size monster fish together with luck involved too. You'll get past this soon! I may be adopting two 16-18" Armatus from a friend since they've far outgrown his 180g into my pond for the summer until finding a new home.
The injuries didn't looked that savage compared to the dorado (that was killed by GATF). It probably hit the corners hard after being chased by the aggressor and something broke within. 
I was reading about your concerns on the Lince due to your TATF in the other thread - perhaps you may want to do something about that too (since you have a hunch).
Lost nearly 80 percent of my monsters few years back and was devastated (VATF, Armatus, pure pearl and RMM rays, flavican, tig, Curupira, tats plus two Asian Aros and a trio of wild caught PBs).
In stages too; throughout the year.
Took me 5 years to come back to keeping monsters again.
I was reading about your concerns on the Lince due to your TATF in the other thread - perhaps you may want to do something about that too (since you have a hunch).
Lost nearly 80 percent of my monsters few years back and was devastated (VATF, Armatus, pure pearl and RMM rays, flavican, tig, Curupira, tats plus two Asian Aros and a trio of wild caught PBs).
In stages too; throughout the year.
Took me 5 years to come back to keeping monsters again.
I'm sure after seeing what happens with them you are more then prepared...... Great fish! Just sucks that we don't see more long term success with them....... All I know is I'm done with having "favorite" toothy fish, from now on my favorite is going to be whichever lowers my blood pressure instead of raise it, and I see plenty of proof that given my current stock the remaining Armatus is just going to raise it. Keeps pokin holes in Robert. Probably not a wise move since he just off'd his sidekick. The pair of Dorado roll tight. I fear they could decide to off the Armatus and get the job done in the blink of an eye. The Armatus also hates the Lince. I don't know WTF to do. Thought about turning the big Tatf loose in there once the divider comes out and just hope for the best..... lol.
Moe, I appreciate the support and the kind words! Means a lot!
IF anyone should feel cramped it should be the Tigers....... I can't help but feel the remaining Armatus is just going to try to off the rest of the tank...... Maybe time to move the Armatus and turn loose the Tanzies?
Would love some input...... Leave things the way they are? Introduce the serial Tanzy or pull the Armatus, and drop in all 3 Tanzies? Maybe a Gatf too? Have a 16"er chilling at a buddies..... Have a trio of 15-16" Wolves that would love the space of the big tank........ Just not sure how they'd get along with the current trio in there. Maybe a half dozen is too many wolves? But they do seem to jive with the Tatf...... What would you guys do?
The injuries didn't looked that savage compared to the dorado (that was killed by GATF). It probably hit the corners hard after being chased by the aggressor and something broke within.
I was reading about your concerns on the Lince due to your TATF in the other thread - perhaps you may want to do something about that too (since you have a hunch).
Lost nearly 80 percent of my monsters few years back and was devastated (VATF, Armatus, pure pearl and RMM rays, flavican, tig, Curupira, tats plus two Asian Aros and a trio of wild caught PBs).
In stages too; throughout the year.
Took me 5 years to come back to keeping monsters again.
I think it doesn't look that bad cause it's in the cooler gash side down.
IF I just had the one big tank I could see bailing, but with almost 4K gallons going there's no easy way to bail, even if I lost the whole tank I'd have to stay in just cause there's no way I could recoop even a fraction of what I have given my location (in the middle of a state that is a big corn field). I just thought the only way to justify keeping the stock I do is to have enough room to split everyone up IF needed, so still have a good 600 gallons that really only have rays in them.......
The Tatf isn't housed with the Lince yet.... I just worry that catfish irritates other fish with it's constant swimming, but the Dorado are 100% fine with it, so maybe it only bothers other fish that don't swim, in that case maybe the Tigers would be like the Dorado and be just fine with it?
I wouldn't want to disrupt the harmony of other tanks at the moment - despite being cramped or something else.
Leave the good balance there and perhaps you might get less headache in the future.
I would just ship the Armatus away or at least partition it by itself.
Is your Lince getting some bites here and there at the moment? From what you mentioned - I would thought something inside is starting to attack it.
Leave the good balance there and perhaps you might get less headache in the future.
I would just ship the Armatus away or at least partition it by itself.
Is your Lince getting some bites here and there at the moment? From what you mentioned - I would thought something inside is starting to attack it.
I still think my big Aimara killed itself trying to kill the Lince. I can't help but think his relentless swimming really bothers some fish...... He/It has no marks on it currently, but the Armatus has poked holes in him in the past.....
My understanding is Armatus would benefit more from soft water then ATF would. The tank I could move the Armatus to is RO fed, I still don't think these fish do well in hard water.
My understanding is Armatus would benefit more from soft water then ATF would. The tank I could move the Armatus to is RO fed, I still don't think these fish do well in hard water.
Could understand the big dilemma you are having now. With over 4K gal of tank space yet this sort of situation still came up.
Nonetheless, I will give priority to the Lince (given its rarity and your isolated location) - LOL!
Armatus are pretty hardy (in my short experience) and they grow pretty fast too. It is more expandable than most of the rare inhabitants there - just my humble thoughts.
Nonetheless, I will give priority to the Lince (given its rarity and your isolated location) - LOL!
Armatus are pretty hardy (in my short experience) and they grow pretty fast too. It is more expandable than most of the rare inhabitants there - just my humble thoughts.
4K gallons sounds like a lot, but I love my filters..... Probably 1.5K of that is filtration - example 750 gallon tank has a 180 tied to it. Filtration consists of almost 600 gallons. My 8x3 360 has a 240 gallon sump. So while it sounds like lots of room it definitely isn't 4K gallons of display tank......
Armatus seem hardy up to about 2' then we all seem to loose them.
Armatus seem hardy up to about 2' then we all seem to loose them.
