View Full Version : synodontis catfish fighting? (with video)
Ive had a good sized syno in my tank with my africans for a few months now and i decided to get another one. once the one ive had for a bit discovered the new one he went after him. He is almost an inch smaller than the new catfish and has always prettty much just stayed in his little root hide a way which is why i got another one. Anyways the new one is bigger so it fought back of coarse but took quite a beating, i noticed today its whiskers are beaten and eyes cloudyish and it has a bit of battle evidence. He seems fine but i just want to know how to help him heal and if i should take him back, and is this regular behavior for synodontis
here is a video i took of the fighting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McEzbnwPzKQ
PS: i know my rift is wacky just work with me here:1zhelp:
froglover007
10-12-2009, 9:31 PM
That is clear evidence of fighting. i would remove one and take it back or put it somewhere else.
jpappy789
10-12-2009, 9:46 PM
You have two different species, likely fighting over the same territory. I would remove one asap. QT and just make sure it has very clean water. Hopefully it will heal up...then return to the LFS or find a new home.
Looks to be S. nigrita and S. congica? I'm not great with syno species so maybe someone else can get a better ID for you...
How big is the tank?
aridd
10-12-2009, 10:01 PM
its 55gal and im in the process of setting up another 50....if i went and got a heater and an airstone for it tomorrow would it be alright to put him in it?....it wont be a cycled tank so im thinking thats a no....my QT tank is already occupied with some malawi bloaters
the reason my spare tank is not cycled is because im saving up for a good canister
jpappy789
10-12-2009, 10:06 PM
You can take some media from your established tank and use that to "seed" the new tank. With the fish in there producing ammonia, the bacteria will quickly multiply. Just keep an eye on the parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) with a good liquid test and do any water changes needed. You want to keep NH3 and NO2 as low as possible, so basically if you get any measurable amount you should change the water.
aridd
10-12-2009, 10:21 PM
alright ill do my best to get that rolling tomorrow night after class, there seeming to steer clear of eachother today. Is there any chems recommended to help along with the nitrification process/make it safer?
jpappy789
10-12-2009, 10:23 PM
not really unless you want to use something like Prime to help w/ ammonia and nitrite. But hopefully your tank establishes quickly. There are bacteria-in-a-bottle products, but its not worth using when you already have some bacteria of your own ;)
aridd
10-12-2009, 10:34 PM
alriiight j pappy thanks!
jpappy789
10-12-2009, 10:36 PM
no problem! good luck and let us know whats up!
Pittbull
10-12-2009, 10:59 PM
Cool deal pappy its what i would have said as well..