discus juvie aggression

F

fishorama

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Jun 28, 2006
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SF Bay area, CA
I guess my new 2 inch discus are getting used to their tank but now they're fighting. I know they'll need to establish a pecking order but is this normal? Today during afternoon snack time, 1 turned darker & was attacking everyone except a smaller 1 that also soon went darkish. I thought dark meant they were unhappy or unhealthy not just food guarding?

It only lasted 10-15 minutes I think. They're back to normal, looking for dinner & sparing. I can't tell them apart except big & small but I think the 1 who went dark has taken 1 end of the tank for his territory. There isn't really much beside the filter flow & a small rock to mark his area. Should I take out the rock? Move the filter?

I need some hand holding please.
 
Juvies are spunky little things. And they do have to establish a pecking order. But even after pecking order is established, one or two of them will act like "the big boy on the block" (or girl!) and try to keep others away from food and from moving, etc. It's just their way. And they'll grow out of it. The last two discus I obtained were juvie cobalts. One always pushed the other away and seemingly pecked at it, seemed like he was always being chased and I worried that the one being picked on would go downhill. Even after I added those two to the main discus tank, it continued.......until they got much bigger. No one else in the tank batted an eye at them or were bothered by the fact that two new ones were added. Now that they are older they are inseparable friends, always together and that juvie spunk period is over.

I am a firm believer in putting things even in a barebottom tank to give discus a place to retreat should they need one. Several potted plants, and pieces of driftwood, etc.

They're going to be kids for a while, and then they grow up. And the dark is from stress. The one being chased isn't going to like it but if it's healthy, he'll hold his own.
 
Oh I thought bare meant naked. Thanks, I'll add some movable decor so they don't have to hide under the heater or guard the thermometer. The guy I got them from is a firm believer in bare tanks, no plants, but did have 2 big sponge filters in with them.

I was surprised the aggressor & his little friend were the dark ones.
 
Then I would guess he's dark because he's not that comfortable with himself as aggressive. It's really hard not to worry about them, Try not to stress, they will role play like this for months to come. I have zero aggression with my adults. Like I said, they could care less if I put more discus in there. They are not worried bout not getting their fair sare of food anymore, they are a unit, including the blues. There's no territory, they're all one big school but the 2 blues stick together like glue, as do the 2 melons and 2 whites! Tell me they don't know color differences!!


And quite a few discus keepers keep the bottom bare for ease of cleaning but still put potted plants and driftwood in the tanks. The young ones need a little security in their surroundings.
 
10, I've only had them a week but they're recognizing me as the food goddess.

Really I know I'm worrying too much, no 1 fish is being picked on or not able to eat. The darkening was new so I had to ask.
 
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