Discus showing aggressive behaviour

[wks]

I bought 6 discus, 4 big and 2 small ones last week. After a water change this afternoon, I noticed one of the big ones kept ramming its head against other buddies'heads. Although they were not injured(touch wood)yet, but I'm worried something nasty may happen soon. The rest seemed to avoid the trouble maker, but my 3 footer could not offer much space for them to stay away.

What should I do?

[Simon]

they r establishing the peaking order in the group, if u have them in a planted tank, make sure u have enuff covers for the weaker ones

[wks]

Simon, what kind of covers? Floating plants?

[Simon]

jason, i mean big plants where they can hide

[lsz]

i just wish to mention that while shelters and covers are at best useful retreats in healthy social situations in a cichlid community ..... at worst they are very short term solutions.

discus are not small fish. and cichlids will be cichlids.

if there is one or two fish that are constantly hiding my opinion is to remove them. (or the troublemaker..but most ppl like troublemakers) . Although physically unharmed a fish in bad subordination is undergoing constant and unnecessary stress...avoidable...at the mercy of the fishkeeper.

[TTL]

For my discus, I experience my discus when I transfering them to a heavy planted tank is that the leader will ram every discus coming into the open to feed, thus in the end, they have to hide in the plants and their colour turn black, but after I transfer them bk to a bare tank, they enjoy each other company with little fight.

I think don't create a space that can lead to any ownership of space and the water quality must be excellent with min temperture of 30 degree.

[wks]

lsz, if I remove the troublemaker, can it survive on its own? I read from books and fish magazines that mentioned discus should not be kept alone.I have a bare 1.5ft tank.

[lsz]

TTL, what you mentioned is actually a common practice done by many ppl having cichlid communities. the objective is to overcrowd a tank deliberately, such that the fish do not have chance to establish territories. You are very right about the water quality part. Tanks as such are impressive to look at and fish tend to be less shy too.

wks,discus do school a little naturally, but the difference between in the wild and in the tank is that they have much more space to establish hierarchy in the wild. If fights break out, the subordinate one can just retreat somewhere. In the tank they can't.

isolating a fish will be very stressful for it. for it loses its sense of security. (group assurance). to add to that, it has to adjust to a new surrounding too. If water parameters are not right, even worse.

the only best alternative is to add the fish to another established community or to pass to someone trustworthy enough to care for them.

i have a tendency to remove bullies instead...because they often are the most robust and withstand such stress better.