Socialzing an Aro

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

I have a Scleropages Leichardti that is nearing 4" TL in a 29 gal grow-out tank. When he is large enough to not get eaten he will be moved to my 120 and then to my 240. In an attempt to minimize aggression issues I want to put something in the growout with him that wont bother him or make him freak out, but get him used to sharing space. Any suggestions?

The inhabitants of my other tanks are Dats, Polys, and CLs.

 

[TheFishWrestler]

Try putting some of those split tails in there. If he kills them it wont matter because they're so cheap.

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

Try putting some of those split tails in there. If he kills them it wont matter because they're so cheap.

The only reason I dont want to put them in there is because they are so similar in shape and color and I fear that they might make him either aggressive or scared and timid.

I am going to put my synodontis and the smallest endli with him, and the gold nugget pleco since I'm now 100% sure that the other one got eaten.

But I want to put something in there that is going to occupy the same space so he can learn to play well with others, or at least tolerate them. I am thinking about tiger barbs or something similar....

 

[TheFishWrestler]

That sounds like a good idea. I don't think he will bother the odoe, you could always put them together

 

[blazin_dragon18]

umm...don't know how true is this theory of their ability to learn to share space. they're just naturally that way. the only way to work it out is to have another fish dominate over ur lei, imo. but i guess if he has always been in the same tank w/a certain fishes, he probably won't get to the point where he kills all the tank mates, but the aggression will definitely be there, thus, constantly chasing and bitting tank mates...etc. so if this method helps, then u should put some silver dollars or red tooks in there. since ur aro is about 4", u can probably put some small red hooks in there so they can grow w/ur aro. i have 2 red hooks in w/my jar, and let me tell u these fishes can take beating!!! they're freakin tough, but at the same time eat like pigs too, and u can forget about putting real plants in the tank...they'll chow plants down

 

[Idealconcepts]

I have a Scleropages Leichardti that is nearing 4" TL in a 29 gal grow-out tank. When he is large enough to not get eaten he will be moved to my 120 and then to my 240. In an attempt to minimize aggression issues I want to put something in the growout with him that wont bother him or make him freak out, but get him used to sharing space. Any suggestions?

The inhabitants of my other tanks are Dats, Polys, and CLs.

I would wait until your fish gets a little larger, around 6 inches, before you add anything. I personally wouldn't risk it, since the Lei are harder to get than Jars as well as more expensive. SD can take a beating but are too jumpy, thus doing the opposite of what you want them to do. You could try tiger barbs that are smaller than him but they can be fin nippers. I would wait till about 6 inches and put in 3 to 4, 2-3inch tiger barbs. I would also suggest putting the barbs on a day you can observe them that way if something is wrong you can move them, instead of finding your Lei or the barbs harrased to death.

As blazin_dragon18 stated their aggression is natural. You might however get lucky and have one that isn't as aggressive as the rest. I'm hoping one of the two I have isn't aggressive and can share a tank.

Did you get our Lei at Jojo off Stockton Blvd?

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

I would wait until your fish gets a little larger, around 6 inches, before you add anything. I personally wouldn't risk it, since the Lei are harder to get than Jars as well as more expensive. SD can take a beating but are too jumpy, thus doing the opposite of what you want them to do. You could try tiger barbs that are smaller than him but they can be fin nippers. I would wait till about 6 inches and put in 3 to 4, 2-3inch tiger barbs. I would also suggest putting the barbs on a day you can observe them that way if something is wrong you can move them, instead of finding your Lei or the barbs harrased to death.

As blazin_dragon18 stated their aggression is natural. You might however get lucky and have one that isn't as aggressive as the rest. I'm hoping one of the two I have isn't aggressive and can share a tank.

Did you get our Lei at Jojo off Stockton Blvd?

I know that they are aggressive, but I am hoping to get him used to having tankmates and sharing space while he is young to try to minimize casualties

I did not get him from Jo Jo's, he came to me thanks to Rich of Infinite Aquatics.

 

[Idealconcepts]

I don't know if you can get them use to tankmates, I think its either they allow it or not, just depends on the individual fishes personality. What you are doing should help with determining if your Lei will be compatiable with other fish though. Better to risk in-expensive fish that you are ok with losing than losing something you would not want to loose. The type of tankmate can also make the difference. I'm not sure if they are the same as Jars where at around 12 inches they typically show their aggressive size.

I got my two from Rich also.

I know that they are aggressive, but I am hoping to get him used to having tankmates and sharing space while he is young to try to minimize casualties

I did not get him from Jo Jo's, he came to me thanks to Rich of Infinite Aquatics.

 

[Justin94565]

Go for it.

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

What you are doing should help with determining if your Lei will be compatiable with other fish though. Better to risk in-expensive fish that you are ok with losing than losing something you would not want to loose.

Thats the idea

The type of tankmate can also make the difference.

Which is why I started the thread. Do you have any suggestions to add to what blazin dragon posted?

I got my two from Rich also.