Lost a favorite fish. Gotta vent.

[TankGirl]

I was out of town for the day today and when I returned, my favorite angel was on her last legs, an eye gouged out and another bite mark on her forehead. The tank is a 55gal with 2 spawning pairs of adult angels, some serpae tetras, white clouds, cory cats and oto cats, lots of plants and caves and such, and a dwarf gourami. One pair of angels spawns on the left side of the tank, the other pair does so on the right side. I have had about 4 spawns from each pair, who spawn within a day of each other, but so far the eggs turn white almost the same day. (I am not particularly interested in raising babies, but it is cool to see; I did not plan on the four baby angels I got to become two pairs!) Anyway, I believe the dwarf gourami is the culprit, because the territories and such of the angels have been sorted out for 6 months and there is no fighting between them, only a peck or two if one strays too far to the other side. The dwarf was removed about 3 months ago from being by himself in a 10-gal, because I wanted the tank for something else and I thought he could hold his own in the 55. He has done great in there until now, with no fighting with the angels. He staked out some tall grass as his territory. However, today his feelers are half their normal length, and he has a raggedy tail. I am bummed. I do love dwarf gouramis but I find them unpredictable and often extremely aggressive. I have a powder blue model in a 15-gal and the only fish he will not kill (head/tail light tetras and smaller) have been cory cats. I had to tell someone, I don't think my husband finds this as distressing as I do! I have grown extremely attached to my angels in particular.

 

[kidafius]

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I empathise your pain.

 

[madasafish]

They really can be aggressive, it seems. And yet sites continue to classify them as "peaceful." This is misleading, and situation is distressing... I believe my DGs to have committed some murders (certainly they've killed some plants) in their stint in my tank.

I am surprised, however, that the DG would attack a much larger angel fish. Angels are semi-aggressive fish... You'd think they would be able to defend themselves.

 

[TankGirl]

Angels are semi-aggressive fish... You'd think they would be able to defend themselves.

Exactly! The female I lost was the one who spawns nearby the DG's grassy post, so she regularly has to keep him away. He is really the only one I can think of, especially considering that he is injured himself today. Up until today everyone had their little part of the tank worked out, and the each pair of angels swam together like married couples (well, maybe not married couples, but like dating couples...) and it was a very peaceful tank. I did want to post this because so many people get DG because they are small and colorful and you should be able to put them in small tanks with smaller mates. I have had only two myself, but both have been very aggressive.

 

[e-cat]

sorry too hear that, it always sucks more when its your favorite fish.

 

[Allivymar]

Aww I'm sorry tankgirl And an angel no less...my fav.

It may have been the gourami; although I put my money on the angel's mate. Angels are funny like that. You think you have a pair, they breed for a while then BOOM they are horribly aggressive to each other. I've heard of other pairs that had to be separated because one turned on its mate or became so aggressive during the pre-breeding that it was killing the other. It wouldn't surprise me if he moved onto the gourami as well as it seems to be in his territory. Keep an eye on the male in case it was him; he may start picking on the other pair as well.

 

[madasafish]

Any indication by the size of the "bite" mark? Angel mouths are a little bigger, assuming your angels are near or fully grown. I've also found that gourami bites don't do much until the other fish is disabled--i.e. they're usually just nasty nips. Its possible he took some unfair bites at the angel while she was hurt, but AlliV seems to have come up with a suitable and reasonable hypothesis for the original attacker.

Hope the 2-males to 1-female ratio won't cause any previously-non-existent stress in the tank!

And... my condolences. I know what it's like to lose a loved fish. They've got the same sentimental value to us aquarists that dogs and cats do sometimes!

 

[TankGirl]

It absolutely could be the male that did it, though I have seen no sign of aggression between the bonded pairs. We think it is the gourami simply because he bravely stands up to them and allows them to take "shots" at him, but they do not let him get close enough to take a shot, as if they are afraid of his bite. They are probably just smarter! I am very closely watching things. I have an empty tank at the ready to relocate either the gourami or the third wheel male if things turn sour. It is very disappointing, because things were going so well for so long. I do think this is typical angel behavior, though, and I am sure the scenario does not surprise veteran angel keepers. I knew that I might wind up with two fish when I got the 4 babies, and even arranged with my LFS to take back any that were not working out. Knowing it might happen helps, but I am still bummed. Thanks for the support, folks!

 

[Voodoo Chilli]

I wouldn't be suprised if it were the mate- or even one of the other angels, Tankgirl. I've kept cichlids for about twelve years now and they never cease to amaze me with their unpredictable behaviour. I know how aggressive those little gouramis can be, but I can't imagine it'd be tough enough to actually kill a sexually mature angel. Still, I know how tough it is to lose any fish, much less part of a bonded pair of cichlids. Keep your head up!

 

[TankGirl]

Yeah, I think everyone is right, and it makes the most sense. The mateless male is now getting quite a bit of attention from the other male, as if they are both now competing for the female. Things seem pretty tense in there right now, without the usual leaf picking and tidbit searching that they usually do. I will see if I can find someone to take the extra male (sniff..) He is really beautiful so I hate to do it, but now I have an empty 44 sitting in my living room for my African rift lake tank, and another new tank on top of that would be pushing it. Hmm. I think I'll check those classifies, just to be sure.....can't blame a gal for snapping up those bargains!