Hi!

I'm new to this forum, and already I'm pretty impressed.

I have a big problem and I don't know what to do!! I had a fantail and shubunkin together who got along so well... they were really buddies. When the fantail died a couple of months ago, my lovely shubunkin was left alone. I felt so sorry for him(her), and bought a pretty sarassa comet for company. However, this comet is sooooooo energetic and she(he?) incessantly chases and appears to nip at my larger shubunkin. Aaaaaaccccck!! I cannot bear to see my shubunkin stressed and exhausted!

After watching the chasing for maybe a half hour or so, I separate the comet into another tank. I've tried separating and reintroducing this comet three or four times over about a month and a half. Each time it ends the same... the shubunkin desperately running to try to hide, the comet incessantly chasing. I'm seriously thinking of returning her to the store where I bought her, and just leaving my shubbie alone for now.

What do you think?? I really need guidance on this. Any hope here for peace between these fish?
Thanks to you all!

Rebbie

How big is the tank as they can get territorial if its not large enough.
Is the chaser actually biting the other or does it have its nose up the other ones butt and trying to push it?

Thanks for your reply, Sandy!! I'm realizing now that the tank that the shubunkin presently occupies probably IS a bit smallish for two. It's a 29 gallon, with several plants. So, this aggression COULD be a bit territorial. That's a thought!

As far as the biting or butt-pushing goes, it seems to be a bit of both. The comet (who may be male or female and is the NEW person to the tank) has a mouth that is always going, that is, opening and shutting all the time, and "she" is on the move constantly... swimming rapidly. Hmmmm... maybe she needs a valium!
The shubunkin (who I'm pretty sure is a male ... white 'breeding' spots were on gills and fins at one time ... and who is the occupant of the tank) is the one who runs and hides. He is a much calmer individual. The comet just won't let him alone.

I AM considering putting these two goldies in my 55 gallon tank.. but it is already occupied by five rainbowfish and an angel fish. Although that would be probably a bit much for the 29 gallon, I'm considering at least a PARTIAL switch. I live in an apartment, and cannot even consider another large tank. So I'm kinda hemmed in. I have the comet in a 10-gallon for the time being. But I really don't want to be using that tank because of space.

Are there some fish who are just aggressive individuals?

Just read your post with interest.I keep a Sarasa comet in with a black moor,weather loach an a hong kong plec.In the past I had another comet in the tank and the surviving one I still have terrorised it yet since replacing my lost comet with the black moor peace has reigned in my tank.

There are some fish that do turn out to be just aggressive fish. If you feel that is the case, then maybe you should return the comet and perhaps try a slower moving fish such as a fantail (as you had previously and it was a successful match), if your shubunkin is a laid back fellow.

It isn't much fun to have a tank that is stressful to watch.

my comet gurgle used to chase my ryukin bubbles because of too smaller space
we got a bigger tank and it stopped for a while, the the next time it was way out of hand and i had to split them up

bubbles is happily living on his own



i agree, you might need to get a laid back fish rather than a comet

Thanks to everyone who wrote in about my aggressive comet. Sadly, she jumped out of the tank sometime during the night... I guess I hadn't covered it well enough... and I found her thismorning when I got up. So sad!! Even though she was a pain in the neck, she was so very healthy and beautiful. I feel so sad and awful... never thought this could happen.

I was actually just on the point of returning her to the little store in Chinatown where I bought her (even tho' I didn't really want to do this) because she was just incorrigibly, frantically active. I tried several more times to re-introduce her into the tank with my old shubunkin, and he totally was stressed out by her. There seemed no way to deal.

Now I think for a while my Shubunkin will be living alone. He may just be happier that way.

After a season of battling ich and trying to deal with this compatibility issue, I am worn out fishwise... gonna leave my fish as they are and consider myself lucky to have them. 29 gallon: 1 shubunkin; 50 gallon: 1 angel, 7 rainbows and a Siamese algae eater.

Thanks again for your help and suggestions.