Hey guys, want your input on some Poly behavior... think I know the answer, but figure I'll get some opinions.
I've had my Delhezi for quite some time, and earlier this year I stumbled across a really nice looking wild caught retropinnis. The retro was a good 2-2.5" larger than the Del, but I had never had any significant aggression issues with any other polys that I had mixed over the years so I didn't give it much thought. Well, the Retro became extremely aggressive after a couple of weeks with the Del, chasing him around biting and honestly I think given the chance and head width, may have given a chance at eating him.
I separated the two fish, keeping the Retro in a spare bare 65 gallon and the Del in his 75. I did extra water change and power fed the Del until the two fish were pretty close to the same size (both are now approx 8", and the Del is thicker than the Retro).
Today I finally re-introduced the retro... And it seems the Delhezi remember him and his bad intentions well. He immediately became extremely jittery, making sudden jerky movements whenever the retro comes close. I've watched them for the past hour or so, and while the retro hasn't nipped or made any aggressive moves towards the Del, it will go out of its way to swim up to him, sending the Del in to another freak out. I tried feeding and the Del hung out on the other side of the tank while they retro gladly gorged.
So here's the question, would you guys go ahead and admit defeat and rehome the retro to keep the Del comfortable? Or would you give it a couple of days to see if they'll get used to each other given the fact they're the same size roughly?
Also have you ever seen two similar sized poly's be able to do significant damage to each other at this size range?
Hate seeing my guy flaring his gills and dorsals upset about the situation.
I've had my Delhezi for quite some time, and earlier this year I stumbled across a really nice looking wild caught retropinnis. The retro was a good 2-2.5" larger than the Del, but I had never had any significant aggression issues with any other polys that I had mixed over the years so I didn't give it much thought. Well, the Retro became extremely aggressive after a couple of weeks with the Del, chasing him around biting and honestly I think given the chance and head width, may have given a chance at eating him.
I separated the two fish, keeping the Retro in a spare bare 65 gallon and the Del in his 75. I did extra water change and power fed the Del until the two fish were pretty close to the same size (both are now approx 8", and the Del is thicker than the Retro).
Today I finally re-introduced the retro... And it seems the Delhezi remember him and his bad intentions well. He immediately became extremely jittery, making sudden jerky movements whenever the retro comes close. I've watched them for the past hour or so, and while the retro hasn't nipped or made any aggressive moves towards the Del, it will go out of its way to swim up to him, sending the Del in to another freak out. I tried feeding and the Del hung out on the other side of the tank while they retro gladly gorged.
So here's the question, would you guys go ahead and admit defeat and rehome the retro to keep the Del comfortable? Or would you give it a couple of days to see if they'll get used to each other given the fact they're the same size roughly?
Also have you ever seen two similar sized poly's be able to do significant damage to each other at this size range?
Hate seeing my guy flaring his gills and dorsals upset about the situation.
