Does more space lessen aggression?

[eDavid]

I was wondering, does a bigger tank with more room per fish diffuse some of the aggression certain breeds might have towards each other, or will they search each other out no matter what? This is a more general question, but one example would be if I got a 100 gallon long tank and had 1 red tailed shard and a couple sae's will they still fight? 3 several inch fish in a 6 foot long aquarium. Thanks

[imma24]

From what I've read here, a larger tank provides more area to put hiding places for fish. Also, if a fish needs a large group, a larger tank provides the space to do that so the large group leaves other fish alone.

[ScottishFish]

If the extra space is used correctly then yes. A 100G bare bottom tank would allow for all the fish still to see eachother and give chase, if you decorated it with river stones, driftwood and plants then this would break their vision of eachother. This would also let them mark out their own territories.

[Goes to 11!]

+1 to the above although I would add that it can depend on the individual fish and what they will tolerate also.

IE: I have the exact tank you refer to but my Oscar lives alone in it because he is a bit like The Highlander, --> There can only be one [Fish in his tank].

[Tolite]

With things like Red tails you need caves and Lots of plantings (like overgrown field type amount of plants) even in a very large tank, I have A Big tank with 4 of the buggers in it. They can be quite agressive and get on the larger side.

But i have a massivly planted tank and don't find agression an issue (unless of course my bf forgets a feeding then they do give chase) but they have to be tall growing plants and you must creat breaks with caves in each section to provide Blinder zones as i would like to dub them and the caves in each little zone give them a place to call home and not think the whole tank is theirs

But i wouldn't recommend them in a tank with out caves and lots of plant cover they will kill eachother. (one got murdered off the bat when my bf brought 5 home with out my concent) but 4 have lived together with no problems since i did a major planting over haul

[eDavid]

That actually brings up something else. What do people do for caves? Decorations are expensive, and they are usually some skull. Are there good cave decoratiosn to buy or make. I did one with a small pot once.

[Tolite]

well that depends you can get some tank silcone and some aquarium safe slate tile (test it first of course) then you can just smash it and slicon it together check out some dyi's on line and here in these forums or teracotta pots the smaller ones seem to do the trick as well. and lots of people just cut up lenghts of pcv pipes. i like to build cave sections out of drift wood as well.


pcv is a cheap way to get enough fast and RT and Crayfish seem to love em:3

[eDavid]

Slate tile?

[Tolite]

Yup long as its tank safe (not all rocks are!) get them at the local home supply shop and just smash the crap out of it then you can build what ever you'd like! i have a project like that going but i pefer piecing together sections of Driftwood to make longer cave sections and it keeps my brislenose happy to nom nom on the driftwood.

but like i said before the quick and cheap way (thou not as eye catching) is lenghts of pvc cut up or tearacotta pots

but remember caves alone won't solve aggression need plants! lots of plants (fake or real either will work based on your budget)

[eDavid]

Cool, could you post like a home depot link so I can get an idea of exactly what product you mean?