[takasumi]

Hello.

I have an evil discus problem.
I have an overly aggressive Alenquer who seems to think that the entire tank is his.

I didn't have a problem with this guy and his buddy (who is an inidentified color) until I placed a snakeskin and a turquoise in the tank last night.
All heck broke loose! The Alenquer(King Tut) went berzerk! Now there's no rest for the new additions.
Tut's chasing the newbs all over his domain. He turns from his happy brownish grey color to a dark smoky blackish color, his gills flare, and his eyes turn a firey red when he gets a glimps of the newbs. Then the chase is on.

Is this normal behavior for an Alenquer to display?
I believe that he's still too young to spawn (3").
The newbs are half an inch smaller.

This is my first time keeping discus.
Any helpful comments or advice will be apreciated.

Thanks,
Anne

 

[DirtyBlackSocks]

Tank size and total number of discus along with their sizes would be a good start.

 

[Joels fish]

Tut's chasing the newbs all over his domain.

IMO the last two words of that statement are the key to this. Tuts obviously the top dog in there and was dominant over his buddy , and as was, they were fine. Now that you've added new fish , tuts displaying typical cichlid behavour, and trying to defend what he sees as invaders. An easy short term fix might be to remove the fish( all of them) , rearange the decor, and then return the fish to the tank. The fish will have to establish new territories and should get along better. Just be sure the decor looks nothing like it did before.

Tank size and total number of discus along with their sizes would be a good start.

DBS is on the money here, that info will help to find a long term solution to your issues.

 

[iplaydrums1]

i agree with both of you, *** had discus for a very long time, and both of those are good solutions.

i would do a water test as well. *** noticed that if the smallest thing is deemed off to them, then they may act aggressive, i had a time when i had all the discus in the tank fight each other. turned out the problem in the tank was...the water was literally just a TINY bit too hard. everything else was fine.

im sure youve all noticed how specific they like their water.

im sure theyll be fine. hes just being himself, there is always one who is the leader. and i guarentee you he will be your favorite too.

 

[apistomaster]

I am assuming your Alenquer discus are wilds. If this is correct then it is not unusual for a wild Blue/Brown, Symphysodon haraldi, to be more assertive than domestic strains of discus. The aggression is normal when you add new discus to their tank.

Breaking the cycle is going to be difficult but the suggestions given so far are about the best ways to go about it.

I don't keep wild discus with domestics nor do I mix different species of discus. Each is given its own tank. Heckels in particular have difficulty coping with the more aggressive haraldi and aquifasciatus, Greens.

 

[apistomaster]

I am assuming your Alenquer discus are wilds. If this is correct then it is not unusual for a wild Blue/Brown, Symphysodon haraldi, to be more assertive than domestic strains of discus. The aggression is normal when you add new discus to their tank.

Breaking the cycle is going to be difficult but the suggestions given so far are about the best ways to go about it. This is especially true of adolescent discus. Often times they settle down somewhat with maturity.

I don't keep wild discus with domestics nor do I mix different species of discus. Each is given its own tank. Heckels in particular have difficulty coping with the more aggressive haraldi and aquifasciatus, Greens.

Accidental double posted after editing. Sorry.