No, they're fine for the most part. Not damaging each other. Just lip locking, letting go, locking lips with another one. They did this for about 2 hours today, and were fine after. It was almost like musical chairs and they switched partners for liplocking. I'm going to be taking in 4 to one of the LFS I guess for some store credit this week though it looks like. Don't want things to escalate when I'm not around to catch it.
Heckelii conspecific aggression
- Thread starter teqvet
- Start date
None of the aggression I saw was overt, but instead, very subtle.
One day a few scales would be missing, next day dead.
how many did you have in the 150g? im kind of concerned because i got a trio in a 300g geo community. though they are only 2-3" atm. with no signs of aggression yet.
I had 5 in the 150, and they showed no signs of aggression at 3", it wasn't until they hit the @6" mark that there was any hint of of a problem, and even then, it was hardly noticeable. I should have reacted faster, and agree with Jim, they seem extremely vulnerable to stress.
There is evidence in nature A heckelli dig and breed in long vertical tunnels, the male then guards. I should have placed many 2 or 3ft lengths of PVC semi buried in sand on the floor of the tank to mimic this.
If I ever try them again, it is what I would do.
Mine had begun piling a lot of substrate around, but it was loose and would not form into tunnels.
In Radeks article, when evidence spawning began, he removed all other fish to relieve any extra peripheral stress.
This was another of my mistakes, there were too many other fish in the tank, and created a non secure environment to spawn in, which may have provoked aggression between the remaining pair.
I believe you will have much better luck in a 300 gal.
There is evidence in nature A heckelli dig and breed in long vertical tunnels, the male then guards. I should have placed many 2 or 3ft lengths of PVC semi buried in sand on the floor of the tank to mimic this.
If I ever try them again, it is what I would do.
Mine had begun piling a lot of substrate around, but it was loose and would not form into tunnels.
In Radeks article, when evidence spawning began, he removed all other fish to relieve any extra peripheral stress.
This was another of my mistakes, there were too many other fish in the tank, and created a non secure environment to spawn in, which may have provoked aggression between the remaining pair.
I believe you will have much better luck in a 300 gal.
