Wolf fish strange behavior

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Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 27, 2009
118
0
46
Michigan
Hello guys. Had a question about how my mala has been acting recently. He normally is a typical wolf fish and hangs out on the bottom until it is feeding time. But I recently donated his tankmate, a lungfish, to the local aquarium. This was about 5 days ago now and I have noticed a decrease in appetite and a constant swimming back and forth in the top of the tank almost like pacing back and forth. Is this common at all? Does he miss his tank mate? Any help I could get would be awesome.

Thanks in advance
 
Hmmmm. Activity is usually a good thing, unless it's frantic, glass-banging activity. How big is your mala? It's possible he's just stamping out his territory since the entire tank is now his. Oh yeah, the obligatory "how big is the tank" question must be asked as well (though it's really just to satisfy my curiosity)

All mine ever seems to do it sit (at least while I'm watching). Occasionally he will hover at the surface during feeding time, which is uber creepy, but still, that's about the extent of his "activity." Even when he was a little baby (under 5") he wasn't exactly active unless it was during feeding time and then he was a MONSTER!
 
The tank is 135/125 gallons I believe. My mala is about 18". But like you said all he did was just sit around until feeding time. Just found it weird that this all of a sudden began to take place. But marking his new territory does make sense considering you used to stay on pretty much one side of the tank.

thanks
 
Before the "that tank is way too small" comment is made, could you post up a pic of your wolf? 18" is MONSTER!!


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6'x2'x2'? Then your tank is a 180. If it's 6L x 2H x 1.5D then it's a 135. Only reason anyone would say it might be too small would be because the wolf is as long as the tank is wide. REGARDLESS, please post a pic of this guy. I love wolf fish. My mala's growth really slowed down at the 1 foot mark though.

How is the guys doing by the way? Still swimming around like a mad man?
 
Hes settling down a bit. But still hasn't been eating a lot at all. Here's a pic. Hard to get a good one of him.image.jpeg

image.jpeg
 
I've moved mine into 3 different tanks as he's grown. Each time I've noticed that it takes a while for him to get comfortable and start eating again. Also, since I've put him into 180, there have been a few alterations to his tank mates. Again, with each change comes a period of moodiness that just seems to pass with time.

Your guy looks healthy, and about as happy as a wolf fish is capable of looking. I'm sure he will come around soon. Beautiful fish btw.


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