swordtails pecking at flowerhorn

[megablue]

I've got a four year old flowerhorn who isn't too active in a big tank with red hooks, green sword tails, and some bristlenose plecos. The male swordtails like to peck around the flowerhorns head. It's like their eating his slime coat. Is anyone familiar with this behavior? He's active enough to try and fight my cat and eats the occasional female swordtail so he's not dead or dying.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

If they are pecking at him they are stressing him out which could eventually lead to sickness and or death. If he was more aggressive he might try to eat them. But If I ever saw a fish causing such stress to another fish I would choose which one I liked more and rehome the other immediately.