Who is the most likely aggressor?

[rrdrummer5]

Out of the fish that are in my signature, who would you feel is the most likely agressor?

I only ask because my new bala sharks are getting their fins nipped and I have watched the tank for a few days now and I dont see anybody fighting.

I would like to get this sorted out and maybe move the bully into time-out but I dont want to take out the wrong fish lol.

Any ideas?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

tiger barbs are bad to nip, but that's probably not your problem...

everything i've heard lately has indicated that you just can't keep multiple shark-shaped fish in with a Red-Tailed or Silver Shark.

Are all the Balas new or just some?

 

[colegamby]

you have a couple fish that could be doin it. i know my red tailed shark is an aggressive little bugger. he has even killed a platy in less then a week. but i would think you would have seen some chasing or something goin on.

 

[rrdrummer5]

The sharks seem to not be bothering anyone. The albino always is doing his own thing and the silver shark catfish has an injured eye so i doubt he would be bullying.

The only ones I could think that are harassing is the Tinfoil Barb or the Kissing Gourami. I have been watching the barb closely(because he is the biggest) and he seems to not care about anyone else and no1 else is running away from him. I read somewhere on here that Kissing Gouramis are very mean and he is the only fish that constantly fights with the Tinfoil.

I dont think it is the tiger barbs becuause they were put in at teh same time as the balas(about 3 days ago) and I have always read that they hardly ever bother other fish when they are in a group and that they are only mean when they are alone.

I think I might just get rid of the kissing gourami as he is ugly and I have never really liked him much lol. I love my tinfoil as he is huge and I have had him since he was an inch long and he is now 6"+

Do plecos ever bully?

 

[trevo878]

I am almost possitive that it is the red tailed black shark. Red tailed black sharks cannot be kept with any other sharks, even with their own species. I know this from personal experiences and from what other people have posted on this forum.
Instead, of getting rid of your RTBS, I would get rid of the 5 balas. These things grow massive, by massive, I mean 12 to 14 inches. I've never heard of a silver shark, I just thought it was another name for a bala.

I would also get rid of the tiger barbs. Although they aren't doing much now, they will be nipping many fins as they grow. They aren't very good community fish.

If you want to get rid of the kissing gourami, it's up to you, but i don't think he/she is the agressor.

After the balas and tiger barbs are gone, your tank should be fine and then you can add some different fish.

 

[Raechal]

Are you upgrading your tank to a 100 gallon plus anytime soon? If not, I suggest taking back about half of your fish.

 

[rrdrummer5]

after watching the fish for awhile today i noticed that it seems to be the kissing gourami and the blue gourami that are nipping at everyone.

I like the barbs because they school with my loaches and looks really cool and ive always wanted balas.

I have no problem upgrading when necassary because I will do anything for my fish For now though they should be fine in the 60 gallon. Its a long 60 gallon so they have plenty of room to swim.

One of the balas is pretty badly nipped and has lost a good part of his fins. Ive heard stories of fish jumping out of the tank and loosing all of their fins and making a full recovery. Should I just bring him back and get a new one or do you think he would recover? Right now he is floating in the tank upside down because he cant really right himself.

 

[rrdrummer5]

Also, the silver shark is a catfish. Also known as a Silver Tipped Shark

Heres a pic of my tank

 

[Katchan]

Why are people always hitting on the poor RTBS, they are wonderful, I've had two (temporarily, emergency) one adult, and one small happy in 75L tank . Red Tail Sharks in my experience are quite territorial and can be quite aggressive about defending it but in general they are not always aggressive to everything. Mine just chase thing a suitable distance away from whatever they call their territory (usually a nice thing hide/sook under or in)

Although I have never heard of an albino red tail, more likely its a rainbow shark aka red fin shark, a red tail black has just that, a red tail only. If it has other red fins its a rainbow shark.

the blue and pearl gourami's may be VERY guilty of nipping the bala after it has been well injured (mine do) but may not of done the original injury (there again if one's an agressive male there is a good chance it did)

Katchan

Society for Being Nice to RTBS

 

[rrdrummer5]

the blue and kissing gouramis are definately male. They are also the only two fish in my tank that pick fights with the Tinfoil Barb which is about 2-3 times bigger than both of them. The Albino Rainbow is pretty docile and I have never seen him nip any of my other fish. Hes chased them b4 but never actually attacked.

I think ill be bringing the two gouramis back to my LFS today. Ive had the blue one for years so i just dont know.

 

[jasmine]

You say you have been watching your tank closely, have you been watching it after lights out? Because this is when the bullying will occur.

 

[BigC]

Opaline gourami's can get quite aggressive, In my early days of fishkeeping way back when... I had one and it never left any of the other tank inhabitants alone.

 

[Raechal]

You really should get rid of some of your fish and focus on the one who need to be in schools.

7 - 1" Tiger Barbs- Your tiger barbs are fine, as they like to shoal in groups of atleast 5.
6 - 4" Clown Loaches These will get too big for your 60 gallon, but they are slow growers, so you'll have time to upgrade to like a 150 gallon if you plan on keeping all of your fish.
5 - 2" Bala Sharks These will also get too big, but if you get like a 150 gallon they should do OKAY. I think a 200 gallon would be better since they like LOTS of swimming room, and the tank would have the rest of your fish in it as well.
1 - 6" Tinfoil Barb I believe tinfoil barbs like to be in groups, when you upgrade, maybe you should get him a few friends. He'd probably be happier.
1 - 3" Golden Gourami This will probably end up as food for the silver shark once it gets bigger. Technically it can eat this gourami at it's size right now. They can eat up tp 67% of their body length.
1 - 4" Opaline Gourami This may also become food for your silver shark.
1 - 3" Kissing Gourami These are often aggressive, so they may nip or attack your other fish over territories. Being this small, it could also be food for the silver shark.
1 - 5" Silver Shark- Silver sharks NEED to live in a brackish tank. Their lifespan will be considerably shortened if you keep him in freshwater. I suggest you take him back as he is probably the worst problem in your tank.
1 - 4" Albino Red-Tail Shark- These are actually pretty peacful when they are the only shark-like fish in the tank.
1 - 4" Pleco- These can get big and they are massive poop machines. I'd say he would be okay in your 60 gallon but should be in a bigger tank.

 

[rrdrummer5]

i just want to make sure we are talking about the same silver shark. The name of mine is Silever-tipped shark but he looks like a catfish.

Here is what mine is http/animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/catfish/sharkcat.php

are we talking about the same one? because mine has never seemed aggresive at all. If anything he usually just chills out next to the heater and likes to play in the bubble wall.

 

[Katchan]

That fishie is the shark cat(fish) or cat(fish) shark or the salmontail catfish, BEWARE they can grow up to 2 feet and once they mature more prefer a brakish enviroment (there are several versions of this fish though all fairly similar. Max size and brakishness prefrences probably differ. These are the australian, s.american and I've heard of a north american version as well)

You need to be careful with these guy's as they LOVE to eat and may grab more than their fair share also they are cabable (but may not actually do) of eating a fish upto 2 thirds their size, consider them an aquatic vacuum. PS I think they look great small and look better mature

Katchan

Edit in
As for aggressivness - Only if its small enough to eat , otherwise they tend to be peacful