On Mon, 08 May 2006 13:48:34 +0100, Nikki Casali
wrote:

Bill Stock wrote:

OK, so aggression is a bit overstated. They sit on the bottom and one slowly
approaches the other and it backs off. Then the one that backed off
approaches the first one and it backs off. I don't know if this is a
territorial thing or a mating ritual. It all looks pretty peaceful whatever
is happening.

I have two aquariums with SAE. In the 75 gallon the three SAE seem to
get on with each other. The bigger one does like to show its authority
every so by gently chasing the smaller two, otherwise they enjoy
swimming together. In my 24 gallon tank the three SAE hate each other
with a vengeance. Last week, one shot through a tiny hole at the back of
the tank and found it dried up and dead on the condensation glass cover.
The remaining two stay at opposite ends of the tank. Maybe its a space
issue. Or maybe its a size issue. Those three were identical in size.
How to choose a leader when they are all equal in strength and size?

Nikki

I have 3 SAEs in a 29 gallon tank, 6 in the 75 and one in a 10 gallon
tank.

I see the "glass dance" in all 3 tanks. I do see side by side
swimming, but I have never noticed any form of attack. I think I
would have noticed as one thing I prize about my communities is how
well they get along. I hate to see torn fins. I have a black
angelfish that I love dearly, but the girl often hurts herself by
getting caught in places she can't maneuver.

Nikki, isn't jumping out of a tank somewhat common? I keep my tanks
pretty tight. I have had fish jump in the past, but did not relate it
to aggression. My SAEs often make a run from the bottom to the top
breaking the water's surface. I don't see any chasing related to the
journey. What about the behavior of the 3 that "hate" each other
leads you to call it that? I know we sometimes cannot put into words
how such feelings come about and I am not trying to argue their
behavior is not "hate", but I am curious what you see that leads to
that conclusion. I see lots of fish chasing each other. Often the
lead (victim?) will turn and become the aggressor. They never do harm
to one another. I take the behavior as playful.

dick