Got My ATF's finally!
- Thread starter sashimimaster
- Start date
Got them at a LFS. They're the only one around here that carries odd ball fish.
I've had bad luck with ATF's in the past. Never owning one beyond 24 hrs.
The first one jumped out through a crack in the cover the first night. The second one became a meal for my Payara. So this time I've got insurance. They're in a tank all by themselves.
I've had bad luck with ATF's in the past. Never owning one beyond 24 hrs.
The first one jumped out through a crack in the cover the first night. The second one became a meal for my Payara. So this time I've got insurance. They're in a tank all by themselves.
FYI I had tried balas as dithers in the past and they did not work. The ATFs would just ignore them and kept fighting among themselves, as if they can tell balas are not their own kind. I think it's the balas eye shape or head structure that gave it away.
Anyways, three will surely not work in the long run. The weaker ones might have lacerations by now, and the cut will only get deeper and longer as the bigger/attacking ATF grows. If you add more it will make the situation worse, unless they are in a +300g tank. Even then, it only will last them for a few years and some will still get killed along with way.
My only advice is to separate them and grow them out individually until they hit over 18" and combine them again to see if their aggression will subside in their adulthood.
Anyways, three will surely not work in the long run. The weaker ones might have lacerations by now, and the cut will only get deeper and longer as the bigger/attacking ATF grows. If you add more it will make the situation worse, unless they are in a +300g tank. Even then, it only will last them for a few years and some will still get killed along with way.
My only advice is to separate them and grow them out individually until they hit over 18" and combine them again to see if their aggression will subside in their adulthood.
Scorponok;4117228; said:
Dang and I just spent over $25 on Bala Sharks...
You are right the smaller two had cuts and slashes along their bodies. I separated them to a 150 gallon and kept the bigger one in a 40g. The plan is to try and grow the smaller two faster than the bigger one. Hopefully put them back together when they're equal size. For now the smaller two are inseparable buddies. It's like they've formed a support group of formerly abused fish...
Long term I'm planning on building a 600+ tank so hopefully that will help.instead of giving them a punching bag, keeping fish that swim around all the time will keep them distracted and busy. arowanas have worked for me. small enough not to eat or try to eat the atf. haven't tried but suspect silver dollars would work as well. as far as decor, ' vertical pillars' work well, something that can obstruct vision of the other.
Thanks. The big one is around 7" and the other two are around 6. I still have to keep them separated because they're still fighting. A few weeks ago I was cleaning the tank and the separator fell over. The two smaller ones started schooling so I figured leave them together and let's see what happens. Well it only took two days and one of them had a 1" gash down the side. So the separator went back up....
I have definitely noticed personality differences between them. The big one eats almost everything. Frozen Tilapia, krill, food sticks, shrimp etc. The middle one only eats Tilapia and food sticks while the smaller one likes fish chunks but not food sticks. Of course the picky eater is the smallest and the most aggressive eater is the largest. I wonder if that has anything to do with the gender of the fish...
I have definitely noticed personality differences between them. The big one eats almost everything. Frozen Tilapia, krill, food sticks, shrimp etc. The middle one only eats Tilapia and food sticks while the smaller one likes fish chunks but not food sticks. Of course the picky eater is the smallest and the most aggressive eater is the largest. I wonder if that has anything to do with the gender of the fish...
Just an update to the ATF's.
My Bala shark dithers were somewhat effective. One got maimed so bad it died. The other 3" one ended up getting eaten by the 6" ATF. Never thought it would fit in the mouth.
I still have the three ATF's separated. Tried removing the divider yesterday and within a few hours the smaller one had ripped fins and tail. They are still around 7 and 6".
I keep waiting for the day when they will stop fighting and I can keep them together. ATM they're in a 150g which I think is too small even at 6" of fish. I'm in the process of building a 670g so hopefully when they have more room they'll stop fighting each other.
My Bala shark dithers were somewhat effective. One got maimed so bad it died. The other 3" one ended up getting eaten by the 6" ATF. Never thought it would fit in the mouth.
I still have the three ATF's separated. Tried removing the divider yesterday and within a few hours the smaller one had ripped fins and tail. They are still around 7 and 6".
I keep waiting for the day when they will stop fighting and I can keep them together. ATM they're in a 150g which I think is too small even at 6" of fish. I'm in the process of building a 670g so hopefully when they have more room they'll stop fighting each other.
Curious to see what kind of tiger you got.