Golden clown knife has become terror, ideas?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
johnnytaboo

johnnytaboo

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 4, 2005
1,123
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68
MD, DC, VA
Well,

I've had my large predator tank running fairly smoothly for several months now, but it seems like my Clown Knife has finally snapped. As you can see in my sig. my 180 has a common wolf, an odoe pike, and my golden clown knife - all over a foot long.

Recently, the clown has taken to terrorizing my odoe; chasing him back and forth and nipping constantly. The odoe seems to be weathering the abuse fine for now, but he hasn't eaten in a few days. This is partly because he is stressed (I imagine) and partly because the friggin Knife fish takes every piece of food dropped into the tank - even if it's only to spit it out later.

The clown even got a piece of my wolf fish (I think) - shredding his top fin.

Now I've grown all of these fish from the about 3" to the size they are now, and I am attached to each of them, but I can't have this clown knife tearing up my tank. I mean, you know it's bad when the wolf fish is one fo the "well-behaved" fish in the tank.

Is there a way to calm the knife down, or am I going to be posting him for trade in the marketplace section in a couple days?

Any help is, as always, greatly appreciated.

- John
 
Buy another tank, move that fish into it.

When you have a "predator" tank, you need to realize that this day will come sooner or later. I do not see selling the fish as a viable option.
 
Sorry man, but that isn't exactly helpful. I don't mean to sound rude, but the forum standard "buy a bigger tank" or "buy another tank" is not an idea I couldn't come up with on my own.

Now if you had any suggestions on how to calm the clown knife down, I would greatly appreciate hearing them. As I said, I've raised all of these fish from babies, so I am not looking to sell. I just can't have one fish bullying my others to death.

And while I personally would LOVE to buy another tank, the basement of my little townhouse is quite literally packed with aquariums (plus the Mrs. would probably kill me).

I'll post some pics of the tank tonight. Maybe it could be arranged differently? The knife did claim the largest home on the right side of the tank (pics will show what I'm talking about).


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You can possibly try rearranging the decor in the tank so that it feels as if its in a new environment but that's just a temporary fix and it'll eventually go back to how it was before plus it adds unneeded stress to the others as well. The only option I really see you having is to trade in the clown knife or separate it from the others. You just got a clown knife with a bad attitude.


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What's the decor in your tank? Is it bare? You can add some tall plants or build up some rocks to break the line of sight and add some caves or driftwood to add territory. Maybe that will help. While CKs are pretty mellow, there are a few that prefer solitary confinement.
 
Are you feeding enough? I find when my fish start getting aggressive toward each other, I feed them heavily for a few days. Bring him up to jersey ill throw him in my 750. I miss my old 29" clown. I would love to grow another
 
With only 3 fish in I suggest to add more fish. Make it 6-8 fish in there. Add datnoids as they can take any beating and are open water fish. It will help it from targeting the odoe. Add some more active swiming fish. Or u can add 2-3 more clown knives. Once they start the picking order to themselves they will start to come down and swim together or just close to each other.
 
Jsodwi i would love for him to have a 750 as a home. If I give up, he's yours.

In regards to your idea King, info have a Dat and a pbass I'm growing out in my 120. I would like to move them into the 180, but they're a bit tiny to be trusted with the wolf. The dat is a relatively shy feeder, but the pbass is a total glutton. I wonder if I might move them over sooner than later.


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