Big IT + little IT?

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David R

David R

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MFK Member
Apr 26, 2005
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New Zealand
A few months back I bought a small IT (about 4" now) to grow out for my 160g with my green aro, ornate etc, but last week a guy who I sold a 10" IT to about a year ago decided to sell his set up so I bought my old fish back and its now 13"! I know its not a good idea to mix two dats (usually kept solo or groups of 3+ ), but with such a size difference is there likely to be any aggression as it'll be fairly obvious whos in charge? I hate myself for making another "will X and Y get on" threads, but I'd appreciate it if anyone with experience of mixing two dats with a big size difference could give me some advice, because if its not likely to work I might go buy another medium sized dat off the guy I got my big one back from.

Cheers
 
tank dimension ? feeding schedule ? lights schedule ? feeding regiment ? tank temp ? water quality ?

Ooh wait let me get my magic 8ball to get the answer.....












HAHAHHAH just kidding man...

TO your answer..
To this day I have yet to see a large dat eat a small dat. They may harrass each other but providing that you have a lot of decor where the small one can hide, he'll be fine..

In my main tank, I have 18 Dats...ranging from a 16" ST down to 4" NTT..The biggest bully is my 9" NGT.

The smallest qty of dat in one tank I have was a 10" IT and a 2" IT. The smaller one actually pick on the larger one lol..

You'll be fine..
 
Haha I deserved that!! Although I can't be sure of those factors as I'm moving in about a month, and I'll be setting up a new 180g and I'm unsure of which fish will end up where. They're currently separated and I'm not looking for a psychic prediction as to weather or not they'll get along, I'm not sure if I'll combine them when we move as I'm a bit worried about the aro and the smaller dat.

Really I'm just after general experience with keeping different sized dats in pairs. I know the big one won't eat the little one as the guy I bought him off kept him with a bunch of others ranging from 16" to 4".
 
David R;2943416; said:
A few months back I bought a small IT (about 4" now) to grow out for my 160g with my green aro, ornate etc, but last week a guy who I sold a 10" IT to about a year ago decided to sell his set up so I bought my old fish back and its now 13"! I know its not a good idea to mix two dats (usually kept solo or groups of 3+ ), but with such a size difference is there likely to be any aggression as it'll be fairly obvious whos in charge? I hate myself for making another "will X and Y get on" threads, but I'd appreciate it if anyone with experience of mixing two dats with a big size difference could give me some advice, because if its not likely to work I might go buy another medium sized dat off the guy I got my big one back from.

Cheers
Click to expand...
i think you will be fine too..i started out having a 10" indo on it's own for about 2 months then added a 2.5" AT they were really good together.

nice too have met you that night..cant wait to pick mine up...
 
a large tiger and a small tiger will live in harmony no problems at all
 
David R;2943677; said:
Thanks. Are you going to get the big one? I'll have to come over once its settled in.
I can't see why there would be a problem until the little one catches up in size to the point where there could be viewed as a threat, but maybe I'm being too optimistic...
Click to expand...

yeah i have got my name on the big indo and the aro..just waiting to transfer the tank to a new stand tis' weekend...cant wait this fishkeeping stuff is addictive!
 
You should be fine...

I keep my smaller tigers with the big boys in my 600 with no problems.

I don't know if the tank size has anything to do with it though...
 
there might be alittle pecking but no damage. so your good to go.
 
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