Heop -Hey fisheys still not good and who hexed them?

[Brandy Alexander]

Ok guys
just after (literally - just about 4 hours later) I said how wonderful my guys and how non aggressive they were, they engaged in an extended bout of lip locking and tail slapping - 8 hours + a few more minimal attempts next morning- so much for gentle giants - first time I have seen this- maybe mating behaviour but I am pretty sure both are males or maybe recent demise of silver dollar mates has upset the dynamics - not sure (in tank move they stessed out max and didn't make it - not uncommon with SD as I understand- shame as they were fully grown - but stupid IMO). Nothing I did could distract the severum!!! Not even a tank rearrangement or an interupting net to separate them :mad: .

ANY WAY now two sore and sorry severums with major 'love bites' on one's lips and both exhausted as well as still having the original owchies. Thought they both seem to have settled back into their normal behaviour today.

Given up on tri sulpa- nothing worse ( other than behaviour!!!) but wounds not better either. What to try next? Should I isolate in hospital tank and try tetracyline or should I try melafix in situ in tank?? Any advice??? Please keep in mind the clown loaches who are my second favorites- yeh I know I shouldn't have favourites but............ :D

[Jenn]

weird, I keep silver dollars with my severums too!
Your right, they are dumb--but great dither fish.
Did you try a water change and double dose of stress coat? And like Crazy Red suggested---what is your tank temperature?

[Buddha_Red]

ive been keeping clown loaches and other loaches for over 2 years, if you have any questions about them, maybe i can help. My loaches dont seem to care when a couple of my fish get into kissing matches. then again, loaches arent scared of any of my fish come to think of it.. hehe i love em all!

[lloyd berg]

water changes will calm a bit of the immediate agression but you are most likely in for a 'choose your favourite-toss the other' situation.
you should consider removing anything they can cut/slash/bang themselves into during the fights to cut down on the injuries. and most good fights occur at night. so make sure you have a well fitted lid on the tank.
moving them into a bigger tank won't likely work. i moved two agressors from a 90gal. into a 125gal. and they still fought daily. seems like once they know each other their tolerance (for each other) drops to zip.

[Brandy Alexander]

weird, I keep silver dollars with my severums too!
Your right, they are dumb--but great dither fish.
Did you try a water change and double dose of stress coat? And like Crazy Red suggested---what is your tank temperature?
Have double dosed the stress coat and did another water change 30% yesterday ( doing one every 3 days)
Temp about 26-27 (78-80). Maybe the previous existence of the SD was what distracted my guys and now that they are gone they are focussing on each other more and there was a bit of a territory battle????
Don't know - anyway they seem to have settled again (or maybe their lips are just to sore to do it any more LOL) The wound maybe marginally better but certainly not signficantly.Doesn't seem to be bothering him though as he is active and eating well - so what next or just wait????
Deb

[Brandy Alexander]

ive been keeping clown loaches and other loaches for over 2 years, if you have any questions about them, maybe i can help. My loaches dont seem to care when a couple of my fish get into kissing matches. then again, loaches arent scared of any of my fish come to think of it.. hehe i love em all!
Yep your right loaches are fine ignoring all the mele but how do they go with melafix if I decide to give that a go. Also I have a recipe for home made melafix from a couple of other sites (1% tee tree oil and then dilute as usual) Do you have any knowledge or experience of using this?
Thanks for the chats- my husband thinks I am totally mad and it is great to talk to other mad fish people ( aspertions on you sanity status but certainly a reflection of mine lol)
Deb

[Brandy Alexander]

water changes will calm a bit of the immediate agression but you are most likely in for a 'choose your favourite-toss the other' situation.
you should consider removing anything they can cut/slash/bang themselves into during the fights to cut down on the injuries. and most good fights occur at night. so make sure you have a well fitted lid on the tank.
moving them into a bigger tank won't likely work. i moved two agressors from a 90gal. into a 125gal. and they still fought daily. seems like once they know each other their tolerance (for each other) drops to zip.
Yes this is possible but I really don't want to choose if I can help it. Did a water change yesterday morning. Amazing though how they have been ok for 3 years without this nonsense - maybe they have just reach full maturity or maybe it is because the distracting Silver dollars are no longer there to distract. They fought mainly during the day and all evening. They seem to have settled now so I will wait and see. . :CR. What to do re existing injuries- tri sulph useless for this(se picutres put up by buddah red on my behalf) IMO What about Melafix or should I consider hospital tank and tetracycline???
Deb

[lloyd berg]

i would think that most fight related injuries will heal quite well enough without meds. especially if water is good (nitrates under 30). it just takes a bit of time/slime to do the job.
there's a story in this forum somewhere about my texas and dempsey who turned from best buds as juvies to lip locking enemies as they matured. and i thought i was 'special' to get away with it(mismatched males) for so long.... :o