Helo, I have two 12" endlis in my 225g tank with sand and lots of hiding places in rocks driftwood and plastic plants and a 24" silver aro. I originally had three of these guys but one died about 2 months ago from gravel ingestion (thus the sand). They all got along great when there were three of them. After I changed to sand, one of the endlis began to go after the other one, all the time. The agressor seemed determined to find and tear off the fins of the other guy. I took the agressive endli and sectioned him off in my community 75g tank for almost a month, giving him time to cool off and letting my other guy heal and beef up. Well, four days ago I put the "agressor" back in his 225g home. Now that he's come around and started eating, he is once again hounding his tankmate. What do you guys think is the best thing to do? I' not against giving Toyin some more business and get a third endli, but I don't want to have two terrorized bichers. Also my community fish are mostly pretty big so I don't think I'd lose too many if I let my weaker endli live in the 75g (not sectioned off). Any fish psychologists out there?
bicher psychology question
- Thread starter LeoKhomutov
- Start date
Maybe they are both male... And it is a natural behavior to go for his other male tankmate... I'm guessing that the other one who died is a female...
IME there are two levels of aggression. Type B aggression is the usual "who are you and what are you doing in my space?", characterized by lots of pushing and shoving, but little damage. Almost all fish do this on some level, especially when adding a new fish to the tank. As Serg stated this is usually sorted out over time once some sort of "pecking order" is established. However what you seem to be describing is what I would call type A aggression. This is much more severe "bullying" that usually ends in death! This is characterized by constant pursuit and attacking. My guess is this bichir was probably always the "top dog", but with more then one object of it's nastiness, was distracted enough that no-one tankmate became it's sole focus. And there in lies a possible solution! If your bichir is indeed a type A aggressor you have two choices. I would recommend either getting a couple more bichirs of around the same size, or isolation. Sometimes you just get an overly aggresive fish. I have an 18" endli female that won't tolerate anything else in the tank. I've lost many fish to her until I realized I'd better keep her isolated, so now she has her own 75 gal. all to herself. Whatever you decide to do will take some monitoring on your part! Large bichirs are too precious and exspensive to lose one to inattention. Your bully needs to be distracted with more activity or isolated so no one gets hurt! IMHO-- Johnathan 
Jonathan, thanks for the input. I think my agressor is the type A. I'll speak with Toyin and see what he's got to distract this guy. He's beautiful and don't want to give him up.
If the problem persists I would either put more places to hide or put in more polys as he won't be able to chase them all. I once had 2 3" gouramis in my 150 that is moderately planted and the one almost bullied the other one to death. You would think in a 6' tank there is more than enough room for 2 3" fish who don't get along but I guess not.
i guess it would work if u place in either 100 pvc pipes for him to hide or add in 100 more bichirs, 
my delhezi doesnt bully fish he just scares them away from his spot lol, his spot means the world to him.
Two of my Sens fight, but never leave damage. They just nip each other alot so I waited a few weeks, and sure enough they worked it out. Now they are cool with each other all the time. Even sharing food now.
But I have had the other sort of aggression and had to rehome the aggresor. as he was messing everyone up and leaving damage often.
But I have had the other sort of aggression and had to rehome the aggresor. as he was messing everyone up and leaving damage often.
I had a similar situation. 3 Endli's all getting along fine on a 5' 110 Gallon, I pick up 4 Ornates and add them to the tank and all of a sudden, 2 endli's (male and female) start to pick on the other female taking a chunk out of her tail and constantly biting her fins. I remove the damaged female and let her heal.
I try to put her back after she is healed up and they attack her again but this time the ornates attack also even the smallest ornate which is half her size. So I remove her again.
At this point I debate selling her. I find a 125 gallon on CL, set it up and add all fish to the 125 @ the same time hoping that the extra foot of space and overall new set up would disrupt any territorial aggression and it worked out. I even added 2 more sens and the aggression is non existant.
I try to put her back after she is healed up and they attack her again but this time the ornates attack also even the smallest ornate which is half her size. So I remove her again.
At this point I debate selling her. I find a 125 gallon on CL, set it up and add all fish to the 125 @ the same time hoping that the extra foot of space and overall new set up would disrupt any territorial aggression and it worked out. I even added 2 more sens and the aggression is non existant.