featherfin catffish

miss mighty · Post by **miss mighty** » 26 Dec 2005, 10:11

hi I have too featherfins for about 4 weeks now and Ive noticed one bullying the other one if it goes near it. They where both the same size when I got them now one is noticibly bigger (the bully) than the other one. The smaller one has a couple of teeny scratches an is very shy still. Get to the point I noticed on the smaller fishes 9im not sure what theyre called next to their mouths `barbs`? them feeler things) well these fish have 3 pairs and 2 are hairy/bristly? It looks like the hairs are getting smaller and are white on the ends, do they get rot on these things? Is it something to be worried about? Also the bullying seems to be territorial, the big fish has `his cave` and if the other fish goes near it, itll chase it, I have a community tank, 450l, 151 x 64 x 61 cm. the catfish are about 6/7 inches.

thanks.

Post by **Silurus** » 26 Dec 2005, 10:24

are apt to be territorial and for the good of the smaller fish in the long run, it might be better to re-house it in another tank.

The condition of the barbels might be the result of aggression (i.e. they might have been bitten off by the larger fish).