Shark Trouble...

[drjulesd]

i've just bought 2 rams which i've put in my community tank, only to be chased like hell by my shark! It's an ablino shark...i think...looks the same as a red tailed shark but the body is white with bright orange eyes, fins and tail. Problem is previously i bought 4 platties and a bright red beta....shark ripped the beta apart then one of the platties within a few hours. I gave the other 3 back to the shop as my missus wanted to keep the shark. So the dilemma is what's his problem?? I've taken the shark out and put him in a small tank till i find out what to do. Thing is, the tank is really calm now and the rams are mixing well with everybody.

 

[Anguilla82]

sharks are notoriusly territorial and will attack anything they don't feel comfortable around. (mine attacked my jardini arrowana! and my full grown group of synspillum cichlids)

i'd get rid if you don't want any more casualties as it sounds like you've got a particular nasty one.

 

[ALW]

Sounds like the shark sees the hole tank as its territory, if you move arround the Tank decorations (caves, bogwood and plants etc.) this will then create a new aquascape and the fish will then be on equal footing to establish new territorys within the tank. this should then stop/reduce the chasing

 

[Mr._Fishy]

Having a large tank will also help dissapate aggression. How big is the tank?

 

[drjulesd]

Having a large tank will also help dissapate aggression. How big is the tank?

it's only a 60l tank at the moment until sunday when i pick up a 5 footer! I've got the shark in his own tank now...he looks depressed!

 

[martyn413]

I would also say that 60l tank for a pair or rams is too small.

Once your 5 footer is cycled then they will have enough room as they are territorial.

Martyn

NB - how are you going to cycle your tank. Using the media from the 60l tank will speed the process up but won't be enough to cope will a full stock of fish.

 

[drjulesd]

I would also say that 60l tank for a pair or rams is too small.

Once your 5 footer is cycled then they will have enough room as they are territorial.

Martyn

NB - how are you going to cycle your tank. Using the media from the 60l tank will speed the process up but won't be enough to cope will a full stock of fish.

I think the tank is too small for most of the fish i have now, they were small once! I'll be cycling the tank the usual fishless way, adding Aqua+ and Cycle and ammonia...i've just posted a new topic asking about ammonia...can you put in a few goldfish to speed up the cycle?

 

[drjulesd]

I would also say that 60l tank for a pair or rams is too small.

Once your 5 footer is cycled then they will have enough room as they are territorial.

Martyn

NB - how are you going to cycle your tank. Using the media from the 60l tank will speed the process up but won't be enough to cope will a full stock of fish.

I think the tank is too small for most of the fish i have now, they were small once! I'll be cycling the tank the usual fishless way, adding Aqua+ and Cycle and ammonia...i've just posted a new topic asking about ammonia...can you put in a few goldfish to speed up the cycle?

not going to put goldfish in...sticking with a bottle of ammonia!!

 

[ALW]

Yeh, stick with the bottle

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Sounds like the shark sees the hole tank as its territory, if you move arround the Tank decorations (caves, bogwood and plants etc.) this will then create a new aquascape and the fish will then be on equal footing to establish new territorys within the tank. this should then stop/reduce the chasing

this will only work temporarily, with a v aggressive fish in a small tank you'll gbet the same problems coming back within a month or so.

you need to re-home the shark, he is not suitable for a community tank and you'll continue to have the same problems unless you find him a suitable home.