Lap vs. Buettekoferi, rd 1!

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Keeper of the Ropes

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 29, 2006
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Okay I have a problem. I picked up a 12'' lap from the LFS on Monday, and she's been sharing a 55 with Brat, my 12'' palmas. In the past few days I've noticed a few stand offs but nothing major, and saw a few minor tears on the fins of the lap. I figured they were just working out their dominance and let them be. I was watching 15 minutes ago.... and watched the palmas swim up to the lap and attack her face, latching down on her head. They struggled, and now the lap looks to be losing an eye very soon and one of her side fins is shredded. I emptied a 10 that housed convicts and put the wounded lap in there, treated with stress coat and left the light on to raise the temperature. I'm sure she'll be fine but.. whats the deal? In all I've read in this forum I thought everything would be fine since they were the same size. Is it possible Brat just has a bad attitude and thinks the entire 55 is hers and hers alone? (If she thinks that, she's got another thing coming!) I'd like to keep them together - is there any chance that if I beef up the lap a bit (she's pretty thin) that she might do better?

**edited to add... yes I know the 10 isn't ideal for the lap, but I'm out of options. If I put her in the 20, I'm risking baby bichirs. If I put her in the 30, I'm risking my half grown senegals I've had since they were an inch and a half long.
 
feed them more and give them more hiding places. they should get over it.
 
Once the lap recovers you could try to reintroduce it into the main tank after a change of decor placement. This may or may not stop the aggression.

As mentioned more hideouts or line of sight breakers could help as well.

OR, you could unfortunately have an aggressive individual who enjoys maiming other bichirs.
 
Keeper of the Ropes;485739; said:
Okay I have a problem. I picked up a 12'' lap from the LFS on Monday, and she's been sharing a 55 with Brat, my 12'' palmas. In the past few days I've noticed a few stand offs but nothing major, and saw a few minor tears on the fins of the lap. I figured they were just working out their dominance and let them be. I was watching 15 minutes ago.... and watched the palmas swim up to the lap and attack her face, latching down on her head. They struggled, and now the lap looks to be losing an eye very soon and one of her side fins is shredded. I emptied a 10 that housed convicts and put the wounded lap in there, treated with stress coat and left the light on to raise the temperature. I'm sure she'll be fine but.. whats the deal? In all I've read in this forum I thought everything would be fine since they were the same size. Is it possible Brat just has a bad attitude and thinks the entire 55 is hers and hers alone? (If she thinks that, she's got another thing coming!) I'd like to keep them together - is there any chance that if I beef up the lap a bit (she's pretty thin) that she might do better?

**edited to add... yes I know the 10 isn't ideal for the lap, but I'm out of options. If I put her in the 20, I'm risking baby bichirs. If I put her in the 30, I'm risking my half grown senegals I've had since they were an inch and a half long.



id say with sufficient hiding they will get over it, did u say u had babys????!! got any PICS!!!
 
Kuda;485996; said:
id say with sufficient hiding they will get over it, did u say u had babys????!! got any PICS!!!

LOL no I WISH I could get them to breed but I doubt I'll have a chance to have a big enough tank for awhile. I was referring to the "babies" - polypterus senegalus from petsmart - Gumby and Pokey - 2'' long :)


Thanks for all the help - I'm going to beef Lucy (finally named her) up with feeders and earthworms, then rearrange the tank and try again.
 
man get a bigger tank and add alot of hideing spots because they will be able to get away from each other and stay cool!!:headbang2
 
rasdbo;487844; said:
man get a bigger tank and add alot of hideing spots because they will be able to get away from each other and stay cool!!:headbang2

~*Dreamy eyes*~ .. Just as soon as I get on ground floor..... then its ON!!!!
 
rasdbo;487844; said:
man get a bigger tank and add alot of hideing spots because they will be able to get away from each other and stay cool!!:headbang2

Oh yeah... Imma girl not a man lol
 
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