Ocellifer and Multipunctatus fighting?

scolba · Post by **scolba** » 25 Mar 2005, 18:50

Hi guys (and gals),

It looks to me like my ocellifer and multipunctatus (both about the same size) are fighting. I can't tell for sure because they are behind rocks in the back of the aquarium, but there is deffinately some kind of struggle going on. I see fins wiggling and all that. and then every now and again, one comes out from behind the rocks, only to go back in, and then usually, the other comes out and does the same thing.

So my question is...are they fighting? or do catfish play?? lol..i know..it sounds silly....

if they are fighting, is this something i should be worried about? I just introduced the multipunctatus on tuesday, so maybe its a territory struggle? I have 2 more multi's on the way, but it will be a little while before they get here.

Can anybody give me some insight as to whats going on?

FYI, this is a 55 gallon tanks with 2 spotted sailfin plecos, 1 ocellifer, 1 multi, 2 kenyi cichlids, 2 yellow lab cichlids, and 2 neolamprologus tetracanthus.

Post by **Silurus** » 25 Mar 2005, 20:26

The ocellifer is probably trying to assert itself over the multipunctatus. I would keep the two separate for now, and when your other synos arrive, rearrange the tank decor before reintroducing all the catfish.

caught1 · Post by **caught1** » 26 Mar 2005, 02:57

Two cats always fight in my tanks,3 or more works best.Ocellifer will win the battle,can be nasty and will grow much faster, best to seperate till you get more.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 26 Mar 2005, 07:13

and it's a bad combi IMO to put a more solitary cat wich is more agressive in with a shoaler wich is kept as single.

multipuncs should NOT be kept alone; it's a true shoaling fish that does much better in large groups; of at least 5.

scolba · Post by **scolba** » 26 Mar 2005, 09:21

hmmm...well my only option to seperate them is to put one in a 10 gal. tank..lol...i don't think that would do so well.

Maybe this will be the excuse to convince my GF that we need another tank.

thanks for the info guys...

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 26 Mar 2005, 12:04

well; the tank is overcrowded anyway even without those Syno's.

the Sailfin Plecs (gibby's I think?) get too big for a 55 anyway (reaching 1 foot or more when adult), the tetracanthus is one of the more agressive Tanganyikans wich should be in a 75 at least to avoid the male killing the female.
if they're a matching pair and they spawn; everything else in that tank will die.....

Yellow Labs are shoalers as well and should be kept Haremstyle, but better in a group of say, 2M, 4-5F.

I'm not familiar with the Kenyi; what is the Latin name of this fish?[/i]

Post by **Birger** » 26 Mar 2005, 15:37

For some reason the Metriaclima lombardoi is often called a kenyi as well around here, must have had that name at one time or maybe just a name given commercially.

Birger

scolba · Post by **scolba** » 26 Mar 2005, 19:38

overcrowded?? seriously??? I guess it could be, when the fish get older....but for right now, the labs, the lamps, and kenyi's (pseudotropheus lombardoi) are no bigger than 3", and the bottom dwellers are all 4"....so thats 30" of fish currently....i figure thats going to be ok for a while...

although, when i add more multis....hmmm...i see how it could be getting crowded...argh!! now i really need a bigger tank!!!