Are we to blame for our aggressive damsels?

[gemmy]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110922102241.htm
An interesting article that I found while I was supposed to be researching something else for school. This might explain why my fish attack me.

 

[2quills]

I've always thought that was pretty much common knowledge to begin with. But interesting read Krista, thanks for sharing it. I used to make fairly regular small changes to the rockwork in my cichlid tanks. It seemed to minimize aggression in the dominant male whenever the there was something new to deal with in their environment by changing up their territories so to speak. Gave them something new to think about instead of chasing each other all the time.

 

[btldreef]

Interesting. Definitely makes you think a little.

 

[rainbow grouper]

Certainly interesting subject.

 

[florida joe]

I think it’s safe to say the boredom leads to aggression.

 

[rainbow grouper]

Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/388035/are-we-to-blame-for-our-aggressive-damsels#post_3419399
I think it’s safe to say the boredom leads to aggression.
Agreed.

 

[aquaknight]

I've always thought that was pretty much common knowledge to begin with. But interesting read Krista, thanks for sharing it. I used to make fairly regular small changes to the rockwork in my cichlid tanks. It seemed to minimize aggression in the dominant male whenever the there was something new to deal with in their environment by changing up their territories so to speak. Gave them something new to think about instead of chasing each other all the time.

Thought the article was more about the complexity of an aquarium, i.e. having it full of 'things' to do, vs frequency of changing the decor/aquascape?

 

[2quills]

Thought the article was more about the complexity of an aquarium, i.e. having it full of 'things' to do, vs frequency of changing the decor/aquascape?
IMO those things go hand in hand. You can create an environment as complex as you can possibly make it but eventually its just the same old thing. With an aggresive species my experiene was that by making random changes every once in a while seemed to stimulate the fish in a more non aggresive manor. Each time after a change they seemed to get more active for a period of time. Ergo somethin new and different to explore. Didn't you ever get tired of playing around on the same old jungle gym as a kid or get bored with your favorite video game? I like to mix things up a bit. Figured my fish might apreciate it to since they're stuck in a glass box.

 

[florida joe]

Ok let me throw this out. In our closed system we have alpha aggressive fish. Now on the open reef these fish may not be the alphas so they are more concerned with survival than being aggressive. But in our systems all then need to be is aggressive

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///t/388035/are-we-to-blame-for-our-aggressive-damsels#post_3419450
Ok let me throw this out. In our closed system we have alpha aggressive fish. Now on the open reef these fish may not be the alphas so they are more concerned with survival than being aggressive. But in our systems all then need to be is aggressive
So what are you saying Joe, Krista needs to show her fish who's boss?

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/388035/are-we-to-blame-for-our-aggressive-damsels#post_3419482
So what are you saying Joe, Krista needs to show her fish who's boss?

I'll remember to bite back next time.

 

[florida joe]

Actually you are not too far off if you can stop rolling on the floor laughing for a minute let me explain. I have had a fish bully another. what I did was take a bamboo skewer and when the bully took a run at the passive fish I went at it with the skewer. After a while the aggressive fish felt I assume it was not worth the aggression when all he got in return was a smack with a stick
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///t/388035/are-we-to-blame-for-our-aggressive-damsels#post_3419608

I'll remember to bite back next time.