Haits help!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
There's a pretty direct relationship between aggression and temperature (as well as temperature and metabolism).

My experience with growing baby Haits is pretty limited but I had pretty good luck raising and keeping slightly larger Haits (and Cubans) at lower temps (upper 70s / low 80s).

I also observed some Haits over time in a LFS a couple of years ago. The store got probably 6-8 1.5" or so Haits in...added them to a 20L (if I recall)...with caves, java moss,etc. Tank was probably mid-70s. Probably fed flake once per day. And who knows how frequently water changes were done. Anyway, at least some of the baby Haits were in there for a couple of months...and I don't recall any of them experiencing bloat or bloat-like issues (not that I saw them every day...but it's pretty obvious). This overcrowding might have reduced the aggression on any particular fish (or maybe they sold the biggest / most aggressive ones first).

Anyway, what I took away from it is that bloat is most likely caused by instra-specific aggression / stress probably coupled with power-feeding high protein foods (and stress + heavy food = gastric problems). Lower them temp a bit, feed less often (maybe once per day skipping a day or two per week...and less high protein - Haits are omnivores) and see if that makes a difference. If there's a particular fish that's beating on the rest, divide him right away. A 75g should be large enough for awhile, but won't be forever (unless you divide a pair).

Matt
 
I have a pair divided in a 35g and 3 in a 20g if I end up with one in the 20g im fine with that,the temp in the 35g with divided pair is 86 which is what two experianced members have suggested they do well in as well as low
90s high 80s being there natural habitat temp. Warmer water might raise aggression but I have them divded which is probally my safest bet. They are on omega one vegie flake fed very minimum, loads of O2 and lots of caves and seem to be doing very good active and not very skiddish. Im hoping I can raise them this way with success as I have been wanting a pair of these beauties for awhile now. Thanks to Gage he has made it happen.
 
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