fighting fronts

[peathenster]

Hi - I recently added two fronts to my tank (only two in my lfs) but they didn't seem to get along. Specifically, the larger one KEEPS on picking on the smaller one. I'm rather surprised considering these are 1. schooling fish and 2. supposed to be peaceful.

I was quite disappointed because I was planning to get a group (when more lfs gets more fronts).

Then it occurred to me that having two is probably not a good idea: some fish are better kept along or as a group, but not as two. Is this the case for fronts also? i.e., is this common and should I add more (vs. get rid of the aggressor)?

Thanks!

 

[ProblEmZ]

Tank size? Water parameters? Tankmates? Filtration? Time the 2 fronts have been in the tank? The more information you can give would help those trying to help you.

 

[blkg35]

Fronts are aggressive towards their own species. If you have two males that are almost the same size they will fight for dominance. Getting alot of fronts or only 1 male will help cut down the aggression.

 

[orbit]

Fronts are aggressive towards their own species. If you have two males that are almost the same size they will fight for dominance. Getting alot of fronts or only 1 male will help cut down the aggression.

Yes. 1 Male and the rest female from what I have read. Then it'll be fine.

 

[Muske]

The fighting is setting the pecking order. Get more, if tank space allows, or think about seperating them if the fighting gets worse.

 

[peathenster]

Thanks for the responses - sounds like there's an "easy" solution. The bigger one was picking on the smaller one in a ~55g tank at my lfs, and continued to do so in my QT tank after I got them. I had to put the smaller one in my 120g with some SA cichlids (fingers crossed - no diseases!!!), but eventually they'll move into my 220g.

Hope I can get a few more from them soon....got these two for $11 each (2") and am not sure if it'll be the same deal!

 

[cichlidgirl]

I have two large groups of frontosa, my smaller group has a aggressive male . He picks on all the others. I moved them all to a 265 and he was nicer for a few months and had recently got aggressive again. Im going to have to sell him off and see if i can either find a calmer one or my beta male can take his place. This is fairly common. At two inches though i would think it is just the two juvies establishing a pecking order. Try having just one cave (for the mean one LOL) and the rest of the tank just place some single rocks for the other one to dive behind if he feels he needs some cover, stick in some fake plants here and there around the single rocks that way the alpha will have a actual cave to call his own. that might help.

 

[peathenster]

I have two large groups of frontosa, my smaller group has a aggressive male . He picks on all the others. I moved them all to a 265 and he was nicer for a few months and had recently got aggressive again. Im going to have to sell him off and see if i can either find a calmer one or my beta male can take his place. This is fairly common. At two inches though i would think it is just the two juvies establishing a pecking order. Try having just one cave (for the mean one LOL) and the rest of the tank just place some single rocks for the other one to dive behind if he feels he needs some cover, stick in some fake plants here and there around the single rocks that way the alpha will have a actual cave to call his own. that might help.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll put the larger one in the 120g after qt and see if they get along better, just because it's easier to "catch" it if I need to...