The new guys

[DaveB]

After determining that I was probably just being paranoid about the guys I bought from this thread I put them into the main tank with my other guys. So now there are 7 ITs and 2 ATs, along with a bunch of other fish.

They colored up immediately with the exception of the biggest one, who is brighter but still really unhappy and not moving much. All he others have been out exploring and making friends with the three original guys, and when they're together I have to really try hard to pick out the two smaller originals from the new ones. One new one is easy to pick out because his eyes aren't symmetrical, and another has super bug eyes - they stick way out from his head. I think he's just a little skinny, though, not in danger of the pop-eye disease.

Anyway, here are some pics of the new and old ITs, except the one that is hiding and unhappy...

 

[DaveB]

1) Tank shot of the new layout - way more hiding spots than before to try to get these guys happy. I miss the extra swimming space though, especially for the lusosso, who is a jerk.

2) The one guy I was worried about before when I said he might have a rash. He also has the really pronounced lower jaw jutting out similar to a thread I've seen on here where someone was worried. I am leaning towards him just being underweight, as all the ITs have that to some extent.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

They all look great!

 

[vanimate]

Looking good Dave

 

[Tigerfish908]

Nice looking IT's

 

[DaveB]

Turns out most of those photos just end up showing the three I had before. The new guys are in and out of stability and definitely underweight. I'm going to start feeding the tank a lot more, but I'm a bit worried that that'll just fatten up the existing fishes. The new guys didn't seem to get anything just now when I fed.

I am noticing an interesting behavior between the two larger new guys. They will sort of sit there side by side and shuffle back and forth with their mouths in an odd half-yawn extension. They both do this a few times, then one will turn and be perpendicular to the other guy, and with his mouth half extended, he gently reaches out, makes contact with the side of the other guy (not biting), and pushes him a few inches sideways. Not a quick shove but a deliberate push, like they're playing a game to see who's stronger.

Very strange.

 

[Tigerfish908]

Turns out most of those photos just end up showing the three I had before. The new guys are in and out of stability and definitely underweight. I'm going to start feeding the tank a lot more, but I'm a bit worried that that'll just fatten up the existing fishes. The new guys didn't seem to get anything just now when I fed.

I am noticing an interesting behavior between the two larger new guys. They will sort of sit there side by side and shuffle back and forth with their mouths in an odd half-yawn extension. They both do this a few times, then one will turn and be perpendicular to the other guy, and with his mouth half extended, he gently reaches out, makes contact with the side of the other guy (not biting), and pushes him a few inches sideways. Not a quick shove but a deliberate push, like they're playing a game to see who's stronger.

Very strange.

How long have the new guys been in the tank?
It usually takes a little while b4 they will eat anything after changing their surroundings.

 

[TCZeli]

I am noticing an interesting behavior between the two larger new guys. They will sort of sit there side by side and shuffle back and forth with their mouths in an odd half-yawn extension. They both do this a few times, then one will turn and be perpendicular to the other guy, and with his mouth half extended, he gently reaches out, makes contact with the side of the other guy (not biting), and pushes him a few inches sideways. Not a quick shove but a deliberate push, like they're playing a game to see who's stronger.
Very strange.

This is how Dats fight. They are establishing the pecking order.

 

[DaveB]

Good to know. I'm glad it's not a more violent fighting style.

It's odd that my original three didn't do this (at least not that I ever saw). Maybe because they were all different sizes. The incumbent one, Nibbler, was much larger than the other two, and the 2nd in command very quickly outgrew the other.

The four new guys seem to be 2 pairs of exactly the same size, one pair slightly larger than the other. So it must not be obvious to them who is dominant.

Meanwhile, as those two sort it out with each other, the medium original one just chases them all around the tank at high speed (like all my other fish fight). He has no time for the elaborate dance, apparently.

 

[TCZeli]

Yup, the "dance" happens when 2 Dats are both going for the same spot in the heirarchy because they are somewhat evenly matched.

The larger one chasing the others is because he is reminding them who's boss and the weaker Dats know they do not stand a chance so instead of holding their ground and fighting it out they just run.