I have no doubt in what many people say about red devil aggression being a total factor with a tank that they are in. I came up with a stock layout for my red devil colony tank that has totally taken out any aggression.
My thoughts were based on this. A lot of issues revolve around tank size, the outlay of the tank and amount of fish in the tank for it's size. One main issue that I came across over and over was when a pair sectioned off part of their tank and proceeded to rule the roost so to say.
To this end, I stocked my 8 ft 300g with a nice shoal of silver barbs to patrol the top part and thereby take away any chance of territory being claimed on the top part.
I also put in 3 pleco, 6 lace catfish and 3 african walking catfish to patrol the bottom and to eat any eggs that get laid. Judging from the bellly size on the catfish at times they more than do that job.
So far nothing beyond the basic bravado in the tank.
I also put my paired red bay snooks in the tank as they are more than able to show off a big mouth and make any other fish in the tank back down.
I also have my blue spot pike in there who effectively patrols the tank and everyone gets out of his way.
Over the next few months I am going to add in a few other fish that I am growing out who have some good speed and size.
Here are a couple of shots
my daughter calls him chicken skin
Within a month these 2 will get their own room
the one change I am doing this weekend is to move around the stuff to give the tank 3 separate territories.
Would be interested to see some of your set ups that should not work but do.
My thoughts were based on this. A lot of issues revolve around tank size, the outlay of the tank and amount of fish in the tank for it's size. One main issue that I came across over and over was when a pair sectioned off part of their tank and proceeded to rule the roost so to say.
To this end, I stocked my 8 ft 300g with a nice shoal of silver barbs to patrol the top part and thereby take away any chance of territory being claimed on the top part.
I also put in 3 pleco, 6 lace catfish and 3 african walking catfish to patrol the bottom and to eat any eggs that get laid. Judging from the bellly size on the catfish at times they more than do that job.
So far nothing beyond the basic bravado in the tank.
I also put my paired red bay snooks in the tank as they are more than able to show off a big mouth and make any other fish in the tank back down.
I also have my blue spot pike in there who effectively patrols the tank and everyone gets out of his way.
Over the next few months I am going to add in a few other fish that I am growing out who have some good speed and size.
Here are a couple of shots
my daughter calls him chicken skin
Within a month these 2 will get their own room
the one change I am doing this weekend is to move around the stuff to give the tank 3 separate territories.
Would be interested to see some of your set ups that should not work but do.
