Whats the key to a happy semi-aggressive tank?

[willisrad]

When putting together a semi-aggressive tank, do certain fish get along better then others?
Do you have to worry simply about size of fish?
I imagine you can't have nearly as many fish as you could with a community tank......

Thanks!

[fraley]

This is the same situation im in at the mo whilst my 38 uk gallon tank is cycling..
Hence the signature..
Ive decided to start with a pair of l. brachardi's as i think they are beautiful fish, and maybe some l. leleupi as with my white sand substrate hopefully they'll come out in lovely yellow colouring..Then a couple of s. multipunctatus.
Id love to find a suitable tankmate thats got a nice blue colouring, is quite peaceful and stays relatively small, so if anybodys got any ideas it would be a great help..(or any objections to what ive already said)....

Anyhow back to your post and your right about less fish, but what im learnings that it gets a lot more involved than just size. Especially if your fishes are sexually active, in this case spawning behaviour is a factor to take into consideration...
GOOD LUCK : -)

[Fishguy2727]

There are a lot of things that contribute to success with semi-aggressive tanks. One thing is to be willing to take back the ones that become way too dominant or too submissive. There is no need to make them or all the others suffer because you paid $5 for them and don't want to 'lose' that by taking them back for nothing.

It really depends on what you are thinking of when you say semi-aggressive. What is on your mind?

[Lady Hobbs]

And do I agree with that statement whole-heartedly!! I will not keep a fish in the tank that makes the others lives stressful and keeps them from living naturally. Fish can not get away from their aggressor as they can in the wild and I have no problem "putting down" a fish that will not get along with it's tank mates. I got rid of Mollies and large gourami's for this reason and let's say they didn't go "naturally."

I have one angelfish that no matter how many times I've tried to have him with the others, it's a no-go. He has to have his own tank or will keep the others all crammed up 24 hours a day in one corner.

Sometimes it's much easier to try to stick with only one sex, as well, as males will torment females almost to death or fight with other males. That, of course, depends on whether you want fry.

[Severus]

Some of the many factors are size, actual temperment towards same species and different species, cichlids or no cichlids... there are tons of factors with a semi aggressive tank. I have gotten my tank almost right were i want it. I have a blue gourami, pink kissing gourami, and two Severums. Also a pleco but he doesnt count. lol

[wijnands]

Well.. it's not a size issue, temperament is much more important. There's fish that can stress out a 4 times larger fish.

Best answer is to ask here.

[Incredulous_Ed]

uh, try alot of hiding places.