Strange behavior...?

**Deanofreshysalty** · 01-05-2013, 03:09 AM

I have had my Pacu fish ( the ones related to the Pirana) for about a month and a half now, at first they huddled at 1 side of the tank and I figured that was because of the move and stress, they are still huddling around the same side of the tank. there is plenty of room for them, I do not understand. I have not tested my water in 3 days because I have ran out of testing equipment but nothing has changed since the last test so it should be good, but I have been doing it every day ever since I've got them and the parameters have been fine an fully cycled to there size. the water is clear and I am running a API nexx filter with powerhead mod into a filter(300gph all together) and also two moving bed filters. I have different type of lighting throughout the tank, could that be the reason?

**icefreeze57** · 01-05-2013, 03:52 AM

Does another fish "control" the other side of the tank? Maybe the tank's temperature is off and is warmer only on the one side, are the fish by teh heater?

**Deanofreshysalty** · 01-05-2013, 05:05 AM

There is one larger Black Fin Pacu byan no heater, doubble glass tank stays nice an toasty 72 @ night and just under 80 during the day. An they all hang out on the one side, an the tank is not against the wall its more or a room divider an they hang out on the open part of the tank not the side on the wall and its like there trying to swim under the glass to "the other side" its getting very annoying that's why I thought I'd post on here an ask what the heck

**Cliff** · 01-05-2013, 10:42 AM

If I remember correctly, you posted in another thread you have a 22 inch Pacu and three 12 to 15 pacu in a 150 gallon tank. Also, in a different thread you posted that one of them has a white spot on its tail.

As you had stated in a third thread that your 150 gallon tank was cycled useing only 4 mollys, I would now beleive that you have a overstocked and uncycled tank. Or at least, not enough bacteria to support the waste producted by these 4 very large fish. This type of situation can also lead to stress in fish causing strange behavor as well as diseases.

I would suggest a lot of daily and very large waterchanges until you can either re-home the fish or get a test kit. Once you can post your parameters, we can give you a little bit better advice

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...d.php?t=109327

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...d.php?t=109442

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...d.php?t=109258

**KingFisher** · 01-05-2013, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Deanofreshysalty

I have had my Pacu fish ( the ones related to the Pirana) for about a month and a half now

You made a thread 9 days ago stating that you had just got them. It's kind of hard to tell anything about their behavior after only 9 days, it takes a while for fish to settle in to a new tank.

**Honey Badger 1** · 01-05-2013, 01:54 PM

In this thread dated 12/27 you say you "just picked them up"... http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...d.php?t=109258 12/27 to today is only 10 day, not a month and a half. Your fish are showing typical behavior of a shoaling species that is stressed.
In this thread you say one of the fish may have an illness or injury... http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...d.php?t=109442 Your fish are showing typical pacu behavior when one is injured. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...s_brachypomus/

**fishmommie** · 01-05-2013, 02:18 PM

many issues here as has been stated in other posts.
You need to get a heater for the tank. You cannot have a temperature fluctuation from 72 (which is not toasty for a tropical fish, btw ) - 80 degrees in a 24 hour period. The water temp should be maintained at a steady temp - generally 78 - 80 degrees - at all times to avoid stress and the onset of disease.

**Deanofreshysalty** · 01-05-2013, 02:56 PM

Yeah the dates seem kinda off its been 33 days since they arived.... feels like a year with these guys, im prob just as stressed as them. I just pick up a 80gal either for the three smaller or just the big guy, an its started cycling two days ago and im getting some BB on monday to. sPeed it up. the last post with large pacu help i picked up some BB an the water has been fine with amo. @ .25 ph7.2 ni.0 na.0. i have live plants, four days ago, testing kit should be intoday(API pro). Then white spot just appeared about 3 days ago. I just added a upflow AS yesterday to experiment. I did not know that temp flex that much could stress....iv been very wrong please forgive me . I belive thats all the info up to date, thank you everyone for all you help an dealing with incompetency and comprehension

**fishmommie** · 01-05-2013, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Deanofreshysalty

Yeah the dates seem kinda off its been 33 days since they arived.... feels like a year with these guys, im prob just as stressed as them. I just pick up a 80gal either for the three smaller or just the big guy, an its started cycling two days ago and im getting some BB on monday to. sPeed it up. the last post with large pacu help i picked up some BB an the water has been fine with amo. @ .25 ph7.2 ni.0 na.0. i have live plants, four days ago, testing kit should be intoday(API pro). Then white spot just appeared about 3 days ago. I just added a upflow AS yesterday to experiment. I did not know that temp flex that much could stress....iv been very wrong please forgive me . I belive thats all the info up to date, thank you everyone for all you help an dealing with incompetency and comprehension

You inherited some problems and are looking for solutions - so there's nothing to forgive. We are all constantly learning from experience and mistakes.

So - you have ich? I'm dealing with that in my 90 too. The temp fluctuation in your tank may have brought it on, so again, a heater is critical.
Check out the fish diseases section for help in curing ICH. You need to know it can kill your fish if you don't get on top of it soon.
Good luck and keep asking questions.