Who said Gold Wolves could shoal?

[mynheers_a_pint]

It depends on the size difference, tank mates, tank size. In the grow out, between the 3-4" baby and 10" gold, I could see a certain amount of malcontent with snapping etc but, crucially, they were both feeding side by side and I wouldn't have said it was constant. In the main tank, the large and med don't generally have spats, though occasionally the larger one will spook the med while resting, instigating a half chase. On the rarest of occasion, there may be one or two nasty moments leaving a few missing scales, torn fins etc. Really though, their tank mates keep them too busy to think about chasing.

I guess I've contradicted myself in the previous post stating there was zero notable aggression then mentioning that there actually is a small amount but really it has never been terrible. I have had the Curupira brutally savage the medium Gold, though, hence why it was in the grow out for recovery. I let it put on a bit of weight and heal before putting it back in the main tank. 6 months on, everything seems ok.

So then, that leaves me with questions like how big is their tank, is it just a pair, what are their tank mates and how big are they? It maybe that in a tank where they are nearer the top of the pecking order, it causes them to constantly vye for dominance.

 

[Crash607]

It depends on the size difference, tank mates, tank size. In the grow out, between the 3-4" baby and 10" gold, I could see a certain amount of malcontent with snapping etc but, crucially, they were both feeding side by side and I wouldn't have said it was constant. In the main tank, the large and med don't generally have spats, though occasionally the larger one will spook the med while resting, instigating a half chase. On the rarest of occasion, there may be one or two nasty moments leaving a few missing scales, torn fins etc. Really though, their tank mates keep them too busy to think about chasing.

I guess I've contradicted myself in the previous post stating there was zero notable aggression then mentioning that there actually is a small amount but really it has never been terrible. I have had the Curupira brutally savage the medium Gold, though, hence why it was in the grow out for recovery. I let it put on a bit of weight and heal before putting it back in the main tank. 6 months on, everything seems ok.

So then, that leaves me with questions like how big is their tank, is it just a pair, what are their tank mates and how big are they? It maybe that in a tank where they are nearer the top of the pecking order, it causes them to constantly vye for dominance.

They are currently in a 75 gallon, and it is only the two of them (I had a school of buenos aires tetras that they ate). The tank has a lot of short stubby plants such as java fern so there is a lot of open water from the middle upwards of the tank. I am thinking about moving them into my 90 gallon, there would be more tank mates to act as dither's. Maybe I'm just over reacting though. When they chase each other it's really fast, like they are swimming at top speeds. However, neither have managed to damage each other (except for maybe some split fins). Another thing I have noticed is that the chase only gets really crazy and violent when the smaller one runs. They will be just sitting next to each other all calm, but the small one will turn around and start to swim away, which makes the larger one chase after his tail, then the small one gets scared and starts swimming faster, and well, you get the idea. I just want the little one to remain still and hold his ground because they both seem fine until the small one starts trying to get away.

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

Another thing I have noticed is that the chase only gets really crazy and violent when the smaller one runs. They will be just sitting next to each other all calm, but the small one will turn around and start to swim away, which makes the larger one chase after his tail, then the small one gets scared and starts swimming faster, and well, you get the idea.

That is exactly it. Given enough room, they can chase when they feel like it but you find it suddenly becomes a half chase. As stupid as it sounds, try adding some moody cichlids- nothing too aggressive but enough to make the wolves think. I had Hecklii and Geo. Brasiliensis with the baby and the med and they were moody enough they would keep the wolves thinking but passive enough that they'd never damage them. It might seem a strange principal but it worked in the grow out. And the large tank; well the P bass and Hilarii keep the golds busy enough that any hostility between wolves is quickly turned into caution and chasing lasts a couple of seconds.

I lost 12 buenos aires tetras to my Baby Wolf. The little ****.

 

[Crash607]

That is exactly it. Given enough room, they can chase when they feel like it but you find it suddenly becomes a half chase. As stupid as it sounds, try adding some moody cichlids- nothing too aggressive but enough to make the wolves think. I had Hecklii and Geo. Brasiliensis with the baby and the med and they were moody enough they would keep the wolves thinking but passive enough that they'd never damage them. It might seem a strange principal but it worked in the grow out. And the large tank; well the P bass and Hilarii keep the golds busy enough that any hostility between wolves is quickly turned into caution and chasing lasts a couple of seconds.

I lost 12 buenos aires tetras to my Baby Wolf. The little ****.

Ok I'll try adding some cichlids like those. Thanks for the advice.

 

[mynheers_a_pint]

Ok I'll try adding some cichlids like those. Thanks for the advice.

It's only an idea so I'm not promising anything but it has worked for me.