I've got some tension in the tank and am looking for some advice. I have a Dovii (8in.), a Dempsey (11in), a Jag (7in.), a Smallmouth Bass (7in.) and a Rock Bass (4-5in.) currently in my tank. The Dovii is about to lay eggs again and the demsey and jag have begun a sort of competition for her. The dempsey still is dominant, but the jag is beginning to shake when shes around and even began lip locking with the dovii when the dempseys across the tank. Her egg tube just became visible and I think the whole situation with the centrals has kind of turned the temperature up in the tank.
The natives are definitely the lowest on the totem pole, the rock bass being the lowest, and they have begun to become the victims of the tension between the centrals. I'm feeling kind of bad for the rock bass, just because it is getting jacked by everything. If the Jag gets pushed out of an area by the dempsey it goes over to the rock bass and pushes him off. Same with the smallmouth, he will get pushed by the Jag, then he will go push the rock bass. Every fish that loses a battle goes and kicks around the rock bass. I'm worried though that if I remove the rock bass it could mean more serious fight between the remaining fish because they wont get the obvious relief they get from asserting their place over him. In essence, that helping the rock bass might hurt the others. I am not as concerned with the smallmouth, since i just watched him and my jag get in wild fights for the last two hours. He will at least stand his ground occasionally.
I guess what I am curious about is the consequence of removing one or both of these fish from my tank in light of the tension between the central americans. I am pretty sure they would be happier in my in-laws pond but would my other fish survive without having them around to beat on? Any ideas would be appreciated.
The natives are definitely the lowest on the totem pole, the rock bass being the lowest, and they have begun to become the victims of the tension between the centrals. I'm feeling kind of bad for the rock bass, just because it is getting jacked by everything. If the Jag gets pushed out of an area by the dempsey it goes over to the rock bass and pushes him off. Same with the smallmouth, he will get pushed by the Jag, then he will go push the rock bass. Every fish that loses a battle goes and kicks around the rock bass. I'm worried though that if I remove the rock bass it could mean more serious fight between the remaining fish because they wont get the obvious relief they get from asserting their place over him. In essence, that helping the rock bass might hurt the others. I am not as concerned with the smallmouth, since i just watched him and my jag get in wild fights for the last two hours. He will at least stand his ground occasionally.
I guess what I am curious about is the consequence of removing one or both of these fish from my tank in light of the tension between the central americans. I am pretty sure they would be happier in my in-laws pond but would my other fish survive without having them around to beat on? Any ideas would be appreciated.
