Sand as an aid in reducing aggression?

[Gr8KarmaSF]

So recently in my BB tank one of my rays is now suddenly aggressive, nipping and biting at another ray, thou nothing major or serious.

Do you think adding sand will help the ray getting picked on?

Given your ray vs ray observations, does giving the victim a hiding spot reduce its chances of getting picked on? This is not a sexual thing, both are females...

 

[spotfin]

May help some, but the one ray will still be aggressive. What size are they?

 

[biggfish]

Could be helpful prevent further injury, but the stressed/picked on ray may still stop eating and eventually...well...you know.

 

[vamptrev]

IME they get aggressive because they are bored and hungry. sand will give them something to dig through instead of pick on tankmates.

i had this prob but i didnt add sand, i just feed more

 

[skynoch]

IME they get aggressive because they are bored and hungry. sand will give them something to dig through instead of pick on tankmates.

i had this prob but i didnt add sand, i just feed more

Agree with above but added fine gravel and it curbed the nipping alot.

 

[abortedsoul]

Adding a piece of driftwood or an oddly shaped decoration might provide some much needed cover so that they could get some decent alone time in. It works with my rays, but I'm not sure that they are entirely normal.

 

[lincolngoh]

IME they get aggressive because they are bored and hungry. sand will give them something to dig through instead of pick on tankmates.

i had this prob but i didnt add sand, i just feed more

I agree... add a little more food and current, to see how it goes.

 

[DB junkie]

More rays to dispurse aggression? LOL

IME all mentioned helps. Driftwood, sand, smooth river pebbles for them to shuffle around...... Lots of current, and of course bubbles. Even some small FAST dithers like Giant Danios. Something constantly moving above them.

 

[ashleysomething]

If rays are being aggressive, they might just need stimulation. The rays that I've kept were a bit more aggressive on bare bottom than on gravel w/ river rock, and more aggressive with decorations than without. I think that if you keep things interesting, switch it up occasionally and vary their diet a bit, they will tend to get bored less.

This just seems reasonable; I would be interested to see if anyone has done research like this with animals before.

 

[StripeGirl]

mine would play with a sponge filter.