Have Panda Garras Got Parasite

[anne.1]

ive got 2 panda garras and my false flying fox and ocassionally clown loach, rtbs and mollys seem to be trying to nibble at them as if thet are cleaning them!! i was wondering if they could have some sort of parasite i cant see anything although they seem a bit quite lately.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Firstly, two Panda Garras is a dnagerous number to have. These fish are territorial to their own kind and will often lose their vibrant black/cream colours ("greying") during squabbles. In a duo, one is likely to become dominant and constant bully the other, so they should either be kept as singles or in groups of at least three (but ideally 5+).

It would not surprise me if what you are seeing is territorial fighting between all your bottom dwelling fish, with your garras being pecked on aggressively, espcially by your RTBS that will see them as similar shaped fish with similar colouring.

How big is the tank?

 

[anne.1]

Firstly, two Panda Garras is a dnagerous number to have. These fish are territorial to their own kind and will often lose their vibrant black/cream colours ("greying") during squabbles. In a duo, one is likely to become dominant and constant bully the other, so they should either be kept as singles or in groups of at least three (but ideally 5+).

It would not surprise me if what you are seeing is territorial fighting between all your bottom dwelling fish, with your garras being pecked on aggressively, espcially by your RTBS that will see them as similar shaped fish with similar colouring.

How big is the tank?

tank is 4ft if 2 is a problem number then i will have to either get another if tank is not too small or get rid of one(really dont want to do this) the pecking does not seem to be aggressive but then i am quite new to this so not sure it could be possible as the other fish do this as they are feeding around the pandas and although dont see many squabbles between pandas the smaller one has gone a slightly lighter shade(they do still occassionally lay together) is my tank too small for another one?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

In a 4-foot you could happily have 4 Panda Garras with at least four caves spread out evenly around the tank floor, but as the RTBS gets bigger (it should reach twice the size ~15cm) it will get more aggressive and may well attack the garras without mercy. Long term, your Clown Loach is going to outgrow your tank and should be kept in 6+ groups to form a social hierachy.

 

[Mikaila31]

My garras hardly ever do much of any squabbling. The worst is just some pushing, but even that is uncommon. It was the same when I had 3 or 6 in a 4 foot tank.

 

[m00ms]

i have a pair of panda garra that i have had for must be over two years now and i have had no trouble with them,they are great together and seam fairly relaxed with each other.they are very active fish and great fun to watch when they are chasing each other round tank but definatly no aggression to each other or other tank mates.

they eat together and will happy sit side by side on rocks,logs or sand when they are not flying around tank like stray bullets!!

 

[Mikaila31]

i have a pair of panda garra that i have had for must be over two years now and i have had no trouble with them,they are great together and seam fairly relaxed with each other.they are very active fish and great fun to watch when they are chasing each other round tank but definatly no aggression to each other or other tank mates.

they eat together and will happy sit side by side on rocks,logs or sand when they are not flying around tank like stray bullets!!

Yeah this is how mine behave for the most part. I've seen some fights where they go completely pale, but they are not really aggressive fights and don't occur all that often. Usually they just push each other around it what looks like social behavior, they like to make a lot of contact with each other. When a fight does occur two fish just face head to head swim against each other till the stronger one is determined. My boesemani rainbows fight more then them. I feel they are quiet social fish though and should really be in groups. Happy garras should also attack your arm whenever you stick it in the tank lol.

 

[m00ms]

one of them is realy intrested in the world outside the tank and will wait at front of tank looking out,i havent had much time last few months but about six months ago if i put finger on tank in front of garra it would waggle its tail and blow sand every where.

if i got to tank and it wasent there waiting,if i put finger on the glass it would come swim over to my finger put its snout to the glass then waggle tail again!! very funny to watch and i could get it to do it every time.like i say thou i havent had much time and it wont do it again although it will happily sit snout on the glass watching me so hopefuly itll start again.

does anyone know how to sex panda garra out of curiousity?

 

[Mikaila31]

one of them is realy intrested in the world outside the tank and will wait at front of tank looking out,i havent had much time last few months but about six months ago if i put finger on tank in front of garra it would waggle its tail and blow sand every where.

if i got to tank and it wasent there waiting,if i put finger on the glass it would come swim over to my finger put its snout to the glass then waggle tail again!! very funny to watch and i could get it to do it every time.like i say thou i havent had much time and it wont do it again although it will happily sit snout on the glass watching me so hopefuly itll start again.

does anyone know how to sex panda garra out of curiousity?

Yeah thats pretty typical behavior for a garra. I was playing with them at a LFS through the glass and thats what led to me ending up with some. I've never been able to figure out how to sex them. With smaller numbers you might have to work with your to get them to exibit the cleaning behavior most garras seem to like to do. Holding an algae wafer between your fingers is a good way to start. They seem to be pretty smart fish. They all mull around nervously till one gets bold enough, then all the others are okay with following lol. All six of mine will boldly clean my hand and arm if its in the tank now, but it took quite a bit of encouraging that I wasn't a threat.