My Orangeheads started a fight club

[DaveB]

I was posting over in the C-F illness section about my stressed-looking male adult when I noticed the obvious culprit: My orangeheads (one full size adult pair and a bunch of adolescents that aren't 4" yet, though they've been fertile for a while) are constantly at each others' throats!

These are supposed to be peaceful fish...

They're not nipping or biting (for once they actually have nice trailers, actually), but they're fighting non-stop, and it even spills over to them taking quick runs at the leucosticta.

It's very annoying.

No serious damage, but there's definitely some stress, and most of the younger ones aren't showing any color at all.

I can't believe I'm asking this... but has anyone ever dealt with aggression in these fish? How did you solve it? Should I separate out the little bastard (dominant juvy) and see if that helps? He seems to be the one picking at the adult, who then takes it out on everyone else around... but it's contagious. Everyone is squaring of.

(Meanwhile, the Uaru clan glides by peacefully, setting a good example. And the fish I put in timeout from another tank is looking through the divider wondering just why it is that HE's the one in jail... Maybe he's the one putting violent thoughts in their heads!)

 

[HiImSean]

how many do you have in how big of a tank?

 

[DaveB]

The adult pair and a crowd of the juvies (8 I think) in a 125. I've always been a big overcrowder, and obviously the water can handle it, and even now it seems empty to my eyes (just cause they're still not that large and don't take up much space). But maybe we're reaching a point where there's not enough surface sand and rocks for them to divide up evenly anymore.

Of course, part of that might be because they refuse to even go into the right third of the tank. I have no idea why. They all just cluster together in the middle third for the most part.

When I move next month it looks like I'll be setting up the 300 (96x30 footprint) so their available space will more than double. We'll see how that works out for them. If they keep going at it I guess it'll finally be time to thin the herd.

 

[bbortko]

When I upgraded from a 55 to a 125 they began to chase each other but have since settled down. Once ever couple of days they'll square off with each other or with my nic but never get within 6" and basically do a you're lucky he's holding me back dance. Since there is never any physical damage I just sit back and dance.