I have a 40 gallon breeder with a jewel, blue acara, and convict. The acara has a serious problem with the convict. They have a history already. I think they're both males and fighting for the attention of the Jewel. The Acara chases the convict all over the tank. If it gets bad, the jewel steps in and protects the convict.
I added the convict about 6 months ago, but had to remove it because it was strategically beaten by the fin nipping Acara. It had not much left of a pectoral and the tail was messed up pretty bad. I secluded it to a 20 to let it heal. The convict did well in the 20 gallon tank I put him in. I ended up buying a big but damaged to the point of barely having a tail female 3 weeks ago. I could see the new convict getting taken advantage of for not having a tail so I secluded it in the 20 gallon and moved the healed convict back to the 40.
Unfortunately the Acara has been just as aggressive the second time around. Fortunately the convict is stronger now so he hasn't been rendered near death as quick. That's not to say the convict isn't getting close to the moving point of tethered though. I've been becoming concerned I need to make the move soon.
I think a new page may have been turned in the tank just today. It looks like the Acara was liplocking with someone and got the short end of the stick. It's lower lip is messed up a good bit. Interestingly enough the Acara isn't nipping at the convict anymore.
Maybe the Acara has respect for the smaller convict now? I'd like to keep the convict in the tank for the other one to heal a couple more weeks. I'm hoping the battles should lessen now that the agressive party got what it had coming for harassing the convict.
I added the convict about 6 months ago, but had to remove it because it was strategically beaten by the fin nipping Acara. It had not much left of a pectoral and the tail was messed up pretty bad. I secluded it to a 20 to let it heal. The convict did well in the 20 gallon tank I put him in. I ended up buying a big but damaged to the point of barely having a tail female 3 weeks ago. I could see the new convict getting taken advantage of for not having a tail so I secluded it in the 20 gallon and moved the healed convict back to the 40.
Unfortunately the Acara has been just as aggressive the second time around. Fortunately the convict is stronger now so he hasn't been rendered near death as quick. That's not to say the convict isn't getting close to the moving point of tethered though. I've been becoming concerned I need to make the move soon.
I think a new page may have been turned in the tank just today. It looks like the Acara was liplocking with someone and got the short end of the stick. It's lower lip is messed up a good bit. Interestingly enough the Acara isn't nipping at the convict anymore.
Maybe the Acara has respect for the smaller convict now? I'd like to keep the convict in the tank for the other one to heal a couple more weeks. I'm hoping the battles should lessen now that the agressive party got what it had coming for harassing the convict.
I wanted to buy the beat up female some time to grow a tail.