1 Fish Dead And Discus Acting Strange

[cambspaul]

Just had a female african butterfly fish die . It hadnt eaten much for the last 2 days , other than that nothing else seemed wrong . There were no signs of any illness .

I have 4 discus , they all got on fine then 1 started harrassing another . One of the others started to step in and be the protecter of the bullied one . Now he seems to be bullying the original bully . Could this be something to do with mating ?

Only had the fish about a week and they were all together in the same tank . Im trying to find out from the bloke i got them from how old the butterfly was .

Has antone got any experiance with discus going nutty ?

 

[mattlee]

discus are cichlids and these will argue and squabble. they could be sorting out hierachy amongst themselves this happens when introduced into new tanks or new fish are added of the same species. if they are eating and looking well then i wouldnt worry too much unless it gets a bit too aggressive and damage is done.

 

[the biffster]

Just had a female african butterfly fish die . It hadnt eaten much for the last 2 days , other than that nothing else seemed wrong . There were no signs of any illness .

I have 4 discus , they all got on fine then 1 started harrassing another . One of the others started to step in and be the protecter of the bullied one . Now he seems to be bullying the original bully . Could this be something to do with mating ?

Only had the fish about a week and they were all together in the same tank . Im trying to find out from the bloke i got them from how old the butterfly was .

Has antone got any experiance with discus going nutty ?

sounds like there sorting
the pecking order out keep an
eye on them as they can kill one an other
whats your tank stats just to be on the
safe side check

 

[cambspaul]

The tank stats are 0 ammonia/nitrite and 10 nitrate . PH has been constant , everything looks good . These fish have been together in there previous tank for at least 6 months and got on fine together .

 

[the biffster]

The tank stats are 0 ammonia/nitrite and 10 nitrate . PH has been constant , everything looks good . These fish have been together in there previous tank for at least 6 months and got on fine together .

sounds like a pecking order

 

[mattlee]

The tank stats are 0 ammonia/nitrite and 10 nitrate . PH has been constant , everything looks good . These fish have been together in there previous tank for at least 6 months and got on fine together .

they have been placed in a new tank with new decor etc so even though they had sorted the hierachy out it will all start again.

 

[cambspaul]

Thanks for the advice lads .
With the butterfly dieing was worried something was wrong .

 

[AmazonFTW]

Yeah, I'd go for the hierachy idea too. It happens with a lot of fish and I've expericenced it with; Angelfish, Crytoheros Cutteri, Rainbowfish, Emperor Tetras, amoung others. I wouldn't worry too much, but yes the African Butterfly would be a concern for me if I had Discus, infact I'd worry about a lot of things with Discus

And at last someone else from Cambridgeshire!

AmazonFTW

 

[cambspaul]

The butterfly was in the previous tank with the discus . There were 2 a male and a female butterflys. Are they not good tank mates with discus then ?
I tried to look for info on here about the butterflys but couldnt find any .

Where abouts in cambs you from amazon ?

 

[mattlee]

if the butterfly can handle temps of 30 degrees thats required for discus then they shouldnt be ant bother to the discus. discus mainly feed off the substrate and the butterfly from the surface. they only get aggressive with other top/surface dwellers/feeders.

 

[cambspaul]

None of the other fish bothered the butterflys as they were always at the top like you said matt .
My tank is at 26 degrees , was told this was alright for discus and have read it on here too .

 

[the biffster]

mrs biffster used to keep butterfly
fish she said they are picky
eaters she said she had one
that would only feed on
freeze dried blood worm
or ant eggs in the summer
she used to kill flies for it

 

[cambspaul]

mrs biffster used to keep butterfly
fish she said they are picky
eaters she said she had one
that would only feed on
freeze dried blood worm
or ant eggs in the summer
she used to kill flies for it

Thanks for the advice biffster , ive still got a male left so ill try some of that

 

[the biffster]

mrs biffster used to keep butterfly
fish she said they are picky
eaters she said she had one
that would only feed on
freeze dried blood worm
or ant eggs in the summer
she used to kill flies for it

Thanks for the advice biffster , ive still got a male left so ill try some of that

try and get another female
a bigger one than the male it might work out
a bit better mrs biffster is going to give
you some info on breeding them
that ok

 

[Carlovel1]

Butterfly fish are picky eaters, if they are, feed them crickets, which they cant resist!