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Home      Reply		Viewed: 371 -- Replies: 9
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Posted	Bullying
13-06-2007 16:11 by acracr	I've had my tank set up for a couple of years and haven't added any fish in the last year. But a few weeks back one of my goldfish lost an eye - I presumed this was through some sort of accident as he wasn't showing any other signs of bullying like ripped fins. But last night another one had been properly attacked - eyes gone, fins and tail shredded. I have no idea which fish is responsible or why it would suddenly have started. There's only one other large goldfish, some loaches and a sunfish in there. Any ideas as to why, or how I find out which one is causing the damage?
13-06-2007 16:20 by scott_91	I'm not an expert on coldwater fish but i have heard that sunfish have a bad reputation for being very aggressive, so that might be your problem but im not 100% sure so wait for a few other people reply, i just wanted to point that out as i can appreciate you dont want to lose fish.
13-06-2007 17:12 by telboy	sunfish = evil keneevel they are predators
13-06-2007 17:27 by PaddyD	Some sunfish are aggressive some are peaceful - do you know what species you have - also be aware that some species of sunfish are illigal to keep without a licence. It could also be a male goldfish trying to spawn that is doing the damage: males in breeding condition drive the female very hard. Males should have thicker pectoral fins and white bumps on their gill plates.
13-06-2007 17:49 by acracr	It's a black-banded sunfish - he has a problem with one of the loaches, but that's more because the loach chases him away every time he comes too close! And the sunfish used to 'herd' the minnows I had in there so I took them out. Other than that, he totally ignores the other fish in there - I know size isn't everything, but the fish that have been injured/killed are about four/five times the size of him. I did wonder whether it was breeding related - I'd understand the ripped fins, but the eye damage? And the fish that died was missing half a tail and the pectoral fins especially were in a really bad state which made me think that it was beyond them being chased for breeding?
13-06-2007 20:30 by Jessica	I didnt know goldfish fought really? I would probably say the sunfish... I had a tropical fish taking the eyes out of my fish, and I finally caught him in the act one time and seperated him. Since then, no problems, try seperating the sunfish and see what happens.
14-06-2007 09:26 by PaddyD	If it’s a black banded I seriously doubt it is a problem…I have never found them overtly aggressive and doubt they could damage a larger goldfish. Also breeding golfish, even in a small tank is rarely a problem to the extent of killing a fish - (the eye could have been knocked during a chase) So, what about the loaches - does it always happen at night? What loaches are they - if it is a weather loach they are usually fine, but if the are sucking loach they can be rouges. If you have a spare tank, you could do what jessica suggest and move each fish out for a couple of weeks and see if it makes a difference.
14-06-2007 09:30 by Alan	Its the sunfish without a doubt used to keep one and had to put it in solitary as it was attacking the goldfish relentlessly. The goldfish were twice the size of the sunfish too.
14-06-2007 13:32 by acracr	The two fish have both been attacked during the day. One of the loaches is a weather loach and I'm certain isn't responsible. The other is a Pakistani/ yo-yo loach - when I bought it a couple of years back I was assured that it would be perfect for a coldwater tank (and the shop had them in coldwater). Having looked into it more since then I've heard mixed views on this, but since they are found in the foothills in snow melt water and my flat is never that cold the loach has been nothing but healthy. It's aggressive towards the sunfish and often swims side by side with the bigger fish, but I've not seen it fin nip or anything.
15-06-2007 19:57 by robert.pope	i had a Pakistani loach and it was a right little bully, it spent all its time trying to latch onto the other tropical fish i kept. so much so i would never keep another one! my ignorence for sunfish as i havent experienced them as yet try isolation on one fish at a time and good luck

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