episode XLIV ...The Puddle farts again!

[Martinspuddle]

This little sod is a killer.

With the batch of Cherry Barbs was two younger males. Last week I'd noticed one of the young males hadn't been seen and the older mature male was constantly hounding the other male. The older male is around an 1" 3/4 in size the rivals just over an inch. This morning I discover the remains of one of the male Barbs being cleared up by an Amano Shrimp and no sign of the other young male.

I know in the wild males have harems of females which they will vigorously against rival males but I think this is the first time I've seen this happen in Cherry Barbs in a home aquaria.

[plankton]

Gosh, that is sort of surprising, did you get all of them together or in two/more batches?

[Martinspuddle]

Gosh, that is sort of surprising, did you get all of them together or in two/more batches?

Started with the four (Original Male the killer, plus three females) in the 120 litre. Added the other six which juveniles back in October to the 300 litre.

[Staffylover]

Crikey did not expect to read this, I thought they were peaceful community fish! There is plenty of space and hiding places in there for the smaller male to get out of the way so it's even more surprising, I have never kept Cherry Barbs but not had this behavior in the other barbs I've kept even the Tiger Barbs I've had were ok, don't know what to suggest sorry you lost him

[Gingerlove05]

Sorry for your loss Martin
I wonder if he’s decided he wont accept any rival males amongst his group of females or in his “area”.
I don’t know much about barbs as a rule as we kept tigers (in completely wrong newbie conditions I admit) but we haven’t been a fan of them since

[Stephen]

Sorry to hear of your loss Martin

[plankton]

Maybe there's something about the males in the second batch that were a definite threat?
Sorry you lost them.

[Martinspuddle]

Having done quite a bit of research last night, it seems this is not unusual for a dominate male Cherry Barb to hound out of his territory new or younger males.

Personally I don't think this has ever happened to me previously or remember having territorial issues with Cherry Barbs but there again I have never kept this many together before.

Part of the problem is we are keeping creatures in a glass box with very little room to naturally manoeuvre.

[Martinspuddle]

Tonight's Scores

Ancistrus 0 - Puddle 12

Yay! I'm getting better at trapping the little wotsits.

[Martinspuddle]

The euphoria soon died, there still more in the Puddle.