Datnoid Dilemma

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Dionysus

Dionysus

Gambusia
MFK Member
May 10, 2007
420
1
16
Wisconsin
Ive been putting way too much time and stress into my fish lately. Ive been a fish geek for 15 years and never had an aggression problem quite like this.
I have 1 AT, and 2 IT's, all close to 6-7" in a 120g. Only other tankmate is a larger 15" gar. The first Dat I got was the AT last march, 3months later 1 IT. They were fine for a week, then started fighting over caves(BTW, Have lots of Caves and shelter in tank). My IT then became more unstable. I found the second IT 2 weeks ago, and thought maybe the third would help. They fight alot, and sometimes get damaged by rocks. Every dat seems to want every cave.
I've tried changing the decor, adding new, removing old. My AT seems to be the bully, so I removed him from the tank and put in a small 45g temp, to see if the 2 IT's could get along. Still fighting. It seems to be more terriorial than anything. I've thought about removing everything, but figured they would started fighting for the spot behind the overflow. Its stressing me out more than the fish I think:WHOA:. Anyone have any suggestions?
 
Add more dats, and remove the supre agressive ones. I had to sell a mean bastard and after 9 dats were in the tank the aggression spread and lowered. I have 3 left and there is no aggression at all.
 
With Dats, it's often an exercise in establishing the right number and mix of fish types and sizes. I suspect that having one fish which is clearly larger than the rest tends to subdue (but not eliminate) aggression by the others. I have also noticed that my Dats seem to be a bit more aggressive when the tank temp warms during the summer. Take a look at your tank temp. I keep mine at 76-78 and see relativley little combat. Reducing the temp may just be worth a try. Dats seem to do well between 72-78F.
 
Add more dats.... ATs are usually aggressive dats... they are one of the most aggressive ones like the NGT, though NGTs are aggressive because they are territorial but nonetheless same like AT...

if you have 2 ITs try to add one more or two more.... usually 3 will even out the aggression....

Or you can also try to remove all your dats put them in a temporary tank, redesign your tank so that any establish territory will be gone, then after that introduce the dat 1 by 1... say 1 day at a time... put the least aggressive one first.... so he can stablish his territory... this can even out or lessen the aggression towards the alpha fish... put the aggressor last...
 
As far as temp goes, I dropped it down to 72deg, but didn't change much. Maybe a little more inactive, but still fighting. I could try removing the caves, but suppose its all decor or nothing.
Thought about adding some dither fish, since the gar worked well with the AT. I would like to buy more IT's, but just can't seem to find them, especially @5-7" around here. I know they were always seasonal, but thought I read that some place over in Asia figured out how to breed them. Any ideas of when, and where, I could try looking for more datnoids?
 
Also, do you think lowering the lighting could help. Right now I only have 2 40w T8 bulbs, which isn't much for a 120G. My AT was always out swimming, but my indos go from cave to cave, never really stay out, until the lights turn off. Maybe this wouldn't feel the need to stay in shelter then?
 
I know what you mean with the fish stressing you out,it burns me up when my fish dont get along also.I have a three inch NGT in my group and it is the only aggressive dat that I have and it is the smallest.I agree with others who say to remove the caves.I have just a few fist sized rocks throughout the tank so they move from one to the other when they are not out in the open.I also rarely use my tank lights for any of my tanks.The surrounding light is enough for me to view and enjoy them and that level seems to have them at ease.
 
Dionysus;3301991; said:
Also, do you think lowering the lighting could help. Right now I only have 2 40w T8 bulbs, which isn't much for a 120G. My AT was always out swimming, but my indos go from cave to cave, never really stay out, until the lights turn off. Maybe this wouldn't feel the need to stay in shelter then?
Click to expand...

I use dim lighting, 25 watt t8, only one. And it's a short tube 2 ft. Which provides a light and dark area effect.
 
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