Sae's Causing Problems

[Akasha72]

Firstly, I wasn't sure what section to put this in so please move if needed.
 
Okay, So I had 3 SAE's. I've had them from oto sized babies. I got them to deal with a severe case of BBA and they've dealt with the problem very very well.
 
A couple of weeks ago I noticed two picking on the third. It would fade it's colours and fly off to hide. A week ago I woke up to it layed on my wood dead. Upset aside I put it down to the bullying. I've only had them 2 years roughly so they are not old by any means
 
I've been closely monitoring the remaining two ever since. I'm fully aware these fish are a shoaling species and so are better in a group but the sheer size of these fish creates a major barrier to this. 
 
One of the two is much larger and fatter and this one is the main bully, especially when there is food around. The last few days this fish is starting to get quite agitated. It's charging about the tank bossing all my bottom dwellers around. My cories seem a bit stressed by it and try to stay out of it's way.
 
I'm wondering what to do. I'll admit to considering getting rid - certainly of the bully but that would leave me with one which I know isn't ideal.
 
I'm just wondering what the advice from you guys would be  

 

[BettaBettas]

well idk, lol really this is one of those difficult to make situations! Ok: Personally, I think that I would get rid of (sell not kill) the SAE's and maybe get new ones, or a more passive less aggressive type algae eater

 

[betta fish]

Hi Akasha whilst not ideal as they are social I have a fully grown solo SAE that is approx 1 year and doing fine, has been on it's own since a baby so you could go this route, mine is quite a bossy fish too always the first up for food and constantly busy, though hasn't taken to harming any of the other fish yet ( touch wood ) this is not the first one I have kept alone the previous one was rehomed with a tank I sold, that too I had since a tiddler.
Sorry about your SAE BTW they are great fish.

 

[Akasha72]

thanks for the replies ... firstly I'd never consider killing a healthy fish. I have euthanised fish but only fish that were very very ill and dying anyway. If 'the bully' has to go I'll have to see if my lfs can re-home it.  

 

[Byron]

This is not meant as critical, Akasha, but whenever I see something like you have set out I feel obligated to point out to others that we should expect nothing else.  What may seem to work initially, may not remain, as here.  So we come back to the maxim that as aquarists we should always assume a fish will behave normally for the species, and not try to force it into situations/environments that are to the contrary.  Bettafish's case is not guaranteed to remain either.
 
Being a shoaling fish, this species should have at least five or six, and given their size this means a spacious tank.  Sometimes we get into situations not entirely planned for, and that is understood.  But for the record, so others will not be tempted to acquire one, two or three of this species, it is not in the best interests of the fish.  Each species has evolved for a specific environment which includes others of its species, and it can be expected to function best only when it is maintained in that environment.
 
The other thing is that fish do not "change their spots," once a stressful situation (and too few in the group is stressful) develops.  The fish is reacting the only way it can, by becoming more aggressive.  This is the normal response to stress that continues, though sometimes the opposite (withdrawal leading to wasting away) may occur.  But the drive to live is usually the stronger, so aggressive tendencies are enhanced.  I would re-home both fish, though whether they would accept others in a new environment at this stage is questionable.
 
Byron.

 

[Akasha72]

I agree and I accept that it's not meant to be critical. I did so much research before buying these fish so I knew I'd ID'd them correctly (I bought one to begin with as they were labelled as flying foxes and I wanted to be sure I'd ID'd them right, as soon as I saw the first one eating the BBA I knew I was right on ID) I bought 2 more so they were part of the group I'd read about. My research suggested minimum group of 3 - hence the three
 
What I wasn't prepared for was the sheer size of these fish. Yes, I had read that they got to 6 inches in length but nothing to say that they got so fat too. If I could turn back the clock I wouldn't get them. These fish need a 5ft tank at the least. My 4ft just isn't big enough for them that much I can see with my own eyes.
 
Part of me started this thread to warn others of what can go wrong with these fish. I know what the answer is really - I need to re-home them both but I feel bad about dumping them on my lfs - they get more than enough super sized fish dumped on them on a regular basis (mostly common plecs) 
 
Ideally I'd like to keep one as my BBA problems have only gone away because of the SAE's. Take away the SAE's and the BBA WILL return and if that comes back I'm giving up keeping fish.
 
It's a difficult call and maybe I need to accept the aggression from this one SAE. It's something I need to think about