Chinese wels Silurus meridionalis at Fish Story

[thebiggerthebetter]

I am sure but still it's an assumption on my part, Russ, he does it by night, never caught him red handed, except when he ate the sick LMB, that was ovbvious Let's see if the damage stops with him gone, then this would confirm my finger pointing.

Also, he doesn't bother other fish, only select tank mates like all 3 indo tarpon, 1 bala, 2 vultures, and maybe 3 LMB.

 

[jjohnwm]

Have you ever noticed that some "jerk" fish, like this Wels, single out one or two targets for their aggression...but if you remove those poor schmucks, they just re-focus on something else, until they end up all by themselves, grumpy and alone? When you showed the video clip of the Chinese Wels being introduced into that "jerk" tank, I saw that nice big Black Shark, and the way it immediately perked up and followed the Wels around a bit, and thought "Hmmm...a lesson is about to be taught to that cat; I wonder if it will learn?"

Just thinking out loud, don't mind me. I'm grumpy too, having recently discovered that my province has in its infinite wisdom banned all species of Silurus Wels cats. I wanted one!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I can't recall that I saw a clear confirmation of what you are describing but in general the "distraction" phenomenon or trick is known - occupy an aggressor with a target, so it leaves alone the fish you are trying to protect.

Great eye on the purple labeo. Yes, in the 5 min they spent together, I too saw a weak attempt by the labeo at mouthing the catfish.

Yes, sooner or later we will all end up in a prison for fish keepers, like the poor Australians, and resort to internet, books, and taxidermy to study and enjoy fish.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Great thread by Wednesday13 on his meridionalis: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/yangtze-albino.754115/

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Some footage in passing

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

The tail is too seducing for the TSN:

 

[jjohnwm]

Bummer. You can instantly see that cat is in a highly-stressed state and needs to get out of there.

Fortunately, Viktor, you have multiple avenues at your disposal for dealing with this issue, even if it means shuffling around much more than just the one fish in order to get things properly "assembled".

Contrast this with the folks who have one single tank, or at least only one large tank, and who are forever trying out risky combinations...usually involving butthead cichlids, but other fish types as well. Even when they put together an ensemble that seems to work, they can't leave well enough alone and are always getting new fish and shoehorning them into the delicate community dynamic of the tank. When...not if...they suddenly see a problem like this, they have no recourse except to wail "Help!" on MFK while they sit and watch the carnage develop.

"Urgent! My Amazonian Snaggle-toothed Headcrusher is killing all my other fish! What should I dooooo? How do I get him to behave like a Goldfish? Please help!"

Well, that's easy. You don't buy killers and hope for them to act like pacifists...and if you do buy them, you remain vigilant and have alternative housing immediately available.

I firmly believe that if you want a big tank full of assorted large predatory and/or aggressive fish...the most essential equipment you can possibly have on hand is a few more big tanks to handle time-outs and separations and convalescences.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Thank you, JJ. Beautifully written as usual Not uncommon for me is to lack in the vigilance dept and then it's too little too late gig, as just happened with our 4th killed large piraiba. At least the chinese wels has been relaxed since the shuffle and healing well it seems.