Gold Dorado and ATF dillemma ...

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djaalix

Plecostomus
MFK Member
May 25, 2011
1,198
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Mahopac Falls, NY
So i did some research and bought a 7-8 inch Gold Dorado, and hoped he didnt cause any problems in my tank 220 gallon tank. And yes, a 1500 gallon tank is in the works, i certainly dont plan on keeping these fish in a 220 forever. After 30 mins he was showing interest in my 3, 8-9 inch Goliath African Tigers, and my 1, 7 inch Vittatus tiger, although the Vittatus is tougher than the Goliaths and didnt like it. After a few hours, the Dorado was chasing all 4 tigerfish all over the tank. It wasnt necessarily malicious, he wasnt biting or causing physical damage, but he effectively had all the tigers in a corner, and whenever he got a look at them he would chase them, and he just wont stop. Lights on or off didnt matter, he was just relentless. I also have a 13 inch Tarpon who he also herded in with the tigers. He seems to be leaving my Datnoids and 2 Armatus vampires alone. Problem is the Tigers are wimpy, and never fight back, although considering the reputation of the Dorado i dont think it would even help. Fighting back may just make it worse since the Dorado doesnt seem to have an ounce of quit in him. I guess my question is are there any solutions to this problem other than getting rid of the Dorado? I know its early to be panicing, i just figure i should be proactive in finding more info or anyone that has experience with these fish together. i'm going to give it a few days and hope it gets better, but just wanted to see if there were any tricks to dummying down the Dorado, or if there is a chance in time he'll relax. I guess the tigers have always been finiky at best, so putting in a fish like the Dorado was a definite risk, i just cant help myself and i love so many different fiah!!! Any info would be helpful, and hopefully when i get home from work i dont have any dead Tiger fish, although i think that is unlikely to happen within a day. I have always geared the tank towards the tiger fish, and their finiky ways, guess this may just be another mistake ... much like peacock bass, and a nile perch, and an African Pike, which i have all tried to put with the Tigers, but the tigers always seem to lose the battle and get stressed out and i eventually have to get rid of the other fish
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Dorado is by far the most harrassing agressive fish I have ever owned... mine beats up on a 16 inch GCK and a footlong Mono Pbass and also an equal sized Nile Perch which is around 10 inches now. Tiger fish are by far the most skittish and easily perturbed fish I've owned... I have the same size tank as you as well. I really dont think the combination will work... If I were you I'd sell off the dorado. that many tiger fish at that size is super bad ass by the way dude... put up some pics your tank stocking sounds very to my liking.
 
Also Dorado's usually get even more agressive when they hit the 18 inch mark I've heard. Usually they can be kept with Bichirs and member of the Hoplias sp. when they get to this size though in a big enough tank.
 
haha, i know what you mean with the tigers .... so skittish and fussy, but such awesome fish, i'm obsessed with them, and gear everything in the tank for them ... i'll try and post some pics of the boys for sure, although i know everyones gonna yell at me saying my tank is way overstocked, but the water chemistry stays perfect and i do weekly water changes to keep the tank super clean, and to account for my problem with WAY overfeeding them! its just so cool!
I have in the tank:
3, 8-9 inch Goliaths
1, 7 inch Vittatus
2, 6 inch Armatus Vampire Tetra's
1, 13 inch Tarpon
2, true goonch catfish
6, 3-4 inch NTT Datnoids
2, 4-5 inch IT Datnoids
1, 4 inch royal pleco who doesnt go near algae, but loves cleaning up the silversides from the bottom
then a Goby, not sure the kind, a wolf fish (nothing special, was just looking so bad at the petstore week after week i had to save him!), and a freshwater stone fish
and of course 1, 7-8 inch Gold Dorado
all eating frozen krill and silversides, except the Dorado hasnt eaten yet, not that i'm worried about him not eating yet, just got him yesterday
i'll get some pics up at some point
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exoticfishguy said:
You're probably going to have to get rid of the dorado...didn't work for me either.
Click to expand...

Agreed,I think they have a problem with mainly silvery fish.I had one that used to give my armatus a hard way to go and I couldn't allow that to go on.



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thanks everyone for the help ... as of yesterday he seemed to be settling down a bit, and he still has not caused any physical injury to anyone and all my tigers still ate aggressively yesterday as well. Also he seems to calm down more now when i turn off the lights, so i'm going to continue trying these tricks, keep a close eye on everyone and see what happens ....

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