Giant ATF in Captivity

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@dbjunkie Id say probably our ATFs are similar size. My VATF still punks the Gatf around though he has his moments where he rips on the VATf as well. I Don't think mine are really all that aggressive to other species but only to themselves. When I had my Arowana in there, they'd all get a whooping... I dont know if I've seen really large tanzies around but I'm sure I've seen small to medium sized ones. The long slope of their jaws/face is unmistakeable. I have never owned one so I cannot comment on their behavior or aggressiveness in comparison. I'm sure he'd put on some size in a bigger foot print. Maybe it's time you put in a xlarge dither that can soak up aggression. Like a tarpon or perch, maybe peacock bass etc.
 
There's a huge "peacekeeper" in my big tank - A Brycon that's probably the same size as the pair of Dorado, but twice the height, twice the girth. Biggest fish in that tank currently since I moved the monster knife out in an attempt to keep peace in the wolf Tatf tank - which seems to work well. The ATF seem to never bother the knife.

I also have a pair of black Aros that could probably go in the big tank IF the Armatus was moved...... Probably around the 1.5' mark.....
 
greenerinks greenerinks DB junkie DB junkie now i am getting more confused, my plan is to put my 9" VATF, 8" GATF, three 5-6" Armatus. I am aware that the armatus will eventually catch up as their growth is much faster, when they oversized the ATFs i would still consider to separate them later. Will this combo work?? Maybe with some dithers? How about a 1ft ++ American Flagtail?? Sorry for detailed questions guys

My VATF also got super colorless because of white sand... sucks!

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For a short while I think it works. At that size none of your fish can deal fatal damage just yet. Once the fish approach a foot, id maybe move the Armatus depending on their aggression. For example, I ended up selling my Armatus because he was just too aggressive. Squared off with my dorado and aimara, which obviously got his ass handed to him by the aimara but I'd often find him chasing my ATFs that were double in size when they were housed together. After I got rid of him, he tried eating a 3 bar datnoid that was way too big for him and ended up just shanking the poor datnoid in the head repeatedly. Another note, my friend whose putting his two 16-18" Armatus in my pond had a 12" vatf that was eaten by them.. Probably one of the reasons he's getting rid of them. Lol
 
greenerinks greenerinks well considering your case, i think i would need to separate them too after they reach that size . :( The tank size will be 230x100x80 cm, i thought that it would be able to hold them for quite some time.

Last time i kept my VATF together with my dorado, the VATF had not start eating even after 2 weeks. I suspected that was because of the dorado, it was so aggressive to my ATFs and it kept on charging them. the VATF started eating the next three days after i took the dorado out of the tank. Dorados are too naughty...

One more concern is one of my armatus is outgrowing the other. I always give enough proportion of food for my trio armatus, i do not know why this one can outgrow the other. Exactly 2 weeks ago, they were all 3" in size. Now the biggest one is 5" while the other two are still 4". Maybe gender difference? a Female? Sorry if im going off the topic of the thread haha
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The upper one is the 5"
 
greenerinks said:
Does the armatus try to poke holes in the brycon too? curious
Click to expand...

Never. I swear it's the movement. The Armatus isn't bothered by the Brycon's casual swimming. He's not bothered by the Dorado "patroling" it's when the Dorado start "playing". They surge in front of each other - challenging eachother to swim faster. We're talking very close to the surface - IF the top of the tank was open there would be gallons upon gallons on the floor, this is what makes the Armatus mad, almost instantly.
 
Ahh I see I see, looks like they are repulsed by the commotion breaking surface tension. I guess large dithers won't even get the attention of the Armatus.. I can imagine doradoes during playtime. Interestingly enough my blue Masheer and dorado when housed together went toe to toe bashing and chasing each other lol. Mashers can take a beating too. They also swim constantly so that's also an option for a dither maybe.
In regards to the Armatus trio having different growth rates, I don't think fish ever have the same exact growth rate, you can't quantify certain variables such has much much food they are really getting individually and if there are being bullied more or less
 
Is there any chance that the fastest grower is a female? as they tend to get bigger first compared to the male
 
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