Serious Aggression issues with large catfish.

[Rpul]

Having some serious issues with my learius pictus on aggressions she's a big girl around 34", recently had something attacker her in the tropical pond, so I removed most of the stock. I'd left two peacock bass in with her. She did nothing but chase the bass around the pond constantly. The pond is 8ft x 6ft foot print, so it's not even like there in her way.

I removed the bass and left her on her own for a week. I've recently re added my Redtail catfish. What's around the 18/20" mark, now I've never had any issues with these two togeather, she did used to Harass my large Niger catfish but not chasing as she is doing now. Dose anyone have any idea, obviously, I know that they have to sort a pecking order out but this is some serous aggression, ive never seen her like she's being in the 9 months ive owned her. She's now chasing the Redtail around as she was the bass. I've dropped the Redtail a large bit of pipe in so he an hide out the way for the time being.

She's even being aggressive towards myself when I put my hands in the pond, pushing agents me and spinning around on me.

This fish has gone from being very chilled out, to a nightmare all of a sudden.

 

[krichardson]

Sorry I can't offer any advice for your problem but I would love to see more photos of that pond.

 

[kno4te]

thebiggerthebetter

 

[Rpul]

I don't know if this will be any help to any of you. Recently had an ammonia spike in the pond. Waters fine now though.

Nitrate 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Ammonia 0ppm
Ph 6.3

Tempreture has been dropping at night from 29c - 25/24c due to the cold weather, but now the spring has arrived it's stopping at a more level temperature over night.

Could it be possible the change is the temps could be triggering some breeding behaviour. I know its pretty unlikely and I'm properly just looking to deep into it. Only reason I say is she's recently took a liking to the pipes where the filtration comes in and out and she's never been a fish to hide out the way or even bother with hiding cover up untill very recently, she's always been a bold fish.

I'm also wondering if she's just out growing the pond. My new tank was due to arrive two weeks back and still hasn't come yet due to the company who's making it set backs. So I'm wondering if the move might calm everything down and being in a bigger space.

 

[FriedFlowerHornFillet]

Bigger is always better. I hope the move to a larger tank helps but usually once they figure out they can push everyone around- they keep it up. Maybe add some dense cover around one of the sides and a crevasse or two might help with territorial nastiness.

 

[Rpul]

Me to buddy, that's the only issue I'm worrying about. i know in a few months the redtail will be able to over power her once he hits 30" power wise. But am I then going to have a repeat effect from the other cat. If only all fish got along lol.

Bigger is always better. I hope the move to a larger tank helps but usually once they figure out they can push everyone around- they keep it up. Maybe add some dense cover around one of the sides and a crevasse or two might help with territorial nastiness.

 

[moe214]

Some fish can take months to settle, maybe that's what you're experiencing. And as said, once they learn they can push everyone around they usually don't stop.

 

[Rpul]

Some fish can take months to settle, maybe that's what you're experiencing. And as said, once they learn they can push everyone around they usually don't stop.

She's started to chill out Abit, still having the odd little tantrum with the other stock. She's no where near as aggressive as she was the other day. She's took over one corner of the pond, I also found something very odd in the pond, infact little clumps of about 30 or so and I have a very fat Redtail which I haven't feed and he hasn't ate anyone. I will attach pictures.

 

[moe214]

Maybe old eggs she was trying to protect

 

[Rpul]

Maybe old eggs she was trying to protect

Possibly, they looked like unfertilised eggs. Although, they was extremely soft and stank. I know she's a female fish as ive sexed her from the information on plant catfish. But that might of explained the aggression as she's been pretty placed tonight. Even came upto me for a stroke and some fuss.

If it's dosn't stop. I will go and buy her a tank to live in on her own.

With the ammonia spike I had the other week, there had been a huge amount of fresh water go into the pond, maybe the odd temptuer drops and the huge amount of fresh water going in the pond caused this? Something I'll never know, I guess. But for now she's settled apart from she's not that keen on the Redtail going near her area in the pond.