![]() ![]() The size of a territory varies by species and terrain. Most territorial fish focus their aggression on similar species a blue gourami might attack a dwarf or kissing gourami but ignore a platy or tetra in its territory. Some fish require a certain space that is “theirs”. In species that don’t normally care for their young, fry-eating is just hunger. Conversely, a fish defending eggs or fry may become quite fierce, killing or injuring even much larger fish if they don’t back away. Laying eggs is a huge expenditure of calories, and a fish in an unsafe or unhealthy environment may retrieve those calories to help it survive to try again when conditions are better. Fry-eating is, oddly enough, an evolutionary survival trait. Again, in a fish tank the rejected fish can’t leave, and the winner will keep trying to drive it out until it is killed. In the wild, a fish that’s tiring in such a contest can break off and swim away for a while in an aquarium there is no “away.” A fish that is weaker may be rejected and driven away by the winner, who will then await a stronger suitor. Mating behavior in fish often includes contests of strength, with jaw-locking and wrestling. Reproductive violence includes spouse abuse, fry-eating and fry-defending. ![]() Thankfully, most of these species have never become common in the aquarium trade. A few fish also feed on parts of other fish, such as eyes, scales or fins. Almost any fish can be a predator if presented with the right size victim. Predation is feeding behavior, and usually involves a large fish swallowing or biting a much smaller fish. ![]() The five motives for piscicide are predation, reproduction, territory, dominance and pathology. Understanding what’s going on may help prevent these incidents. It’s always bad news when fish injure or kill each other in our tanks, or in our customers’ tanks. If your community is comfortable with live plants and you enjoy growing them, by all means continue to do so! But if you want both and are willing to go “plastic”, the rewards can be just as satisfying to you and your fish! Hiding places among the artificial flora can still be comforting and also serve as a nesting area for your egglayers. Algae grows just as well on artificial surfaces, so your algae-eaters will be content. The fish don’t care, except for those who have become excessive nibblers and they’ll soon get over it. Plastic plants do these jobs just as well as live ones. Purists cringe at the thought of using artificial plants in aquariums even though there are many realistic looking choices available today But think about it? What’s the main reason for growing plants besides the aesthetics of it? That’s right, shelter for your fish and places for egg-laying. What’s the solution? Change your fish? Do without plants at all? How about artificial aquascaping? The outcome of this constant planting and replanting can be stressed plants and aquarium owners! Many fish will either nibble your plants into raggedy eyesores or downright eat them up! Others are natural diggers, uprooting dislodging and rearranging your flora all the time. However the choice sometimes comes down to whether to keep the fish or the plants when these tankmates are not compatible. There’s no doubt a well-maintained aquarium, delightfully aquascaped with live plants, is a beautiful sight. ![]()
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