Hi,

I have 4 SAE's in the tank. they're all very active and healthy, but they
are such hogs, they're starting to look like they're carrying small balloons
in their belly (meaning, very fat.. sort of a fish-version of waddling).

I've tried reducing food.. then they're so fast ,they'll eat all the other
fish's share and other fish ended up starving. also, when I reduce food,
they start eating my Amazon sword and Java ferns, so they start looking like
strings (only the hard veins are left on the Amazons, and the ferns are
nibbled to the stump)

so.. to protect the plant, I end up giving the more food, and they continue
to get fat.

I dont' knwo what to do. I know it's unhealthy, but if I don't feed them
enough, they starve the other fish and eat all the plants while they
continue to get fat. also, they're starting to harass other smaller fish
(chain loachs) and I'm afraid they're going to end up as their snack
someday...

any thoughts? may be I should trade in 2 out of the 4 with some other
not-so-voracious fish?

linda