Loaches Online Forum

My 3 histronicas love to harrass my red rainbow fish (Glossolepis incisus) once in a while...
They seem to do it for fun but now i've noticed the rainbows dorsal fins are a bit chewed and tattered. The rainbow is 5 times bigger than these botias. And the rainbow would chase the histronica when it gets annoyed enough.

Is this normal behavior for histronica?
I wonder if they're missing some nutrients or something.

ps. they're only nipping at the rainbow. they leave the smaller fishes alone.

You probably want to add a few more B. histrionica to your group. That way they will be more concerned with each other than the other fish species. They have been known to become slightly nippy in smaller aquariums, so providing you are giving them enough space, try upping their numbers.

Emma

thank for the info.. i have a 29 gallon (us) .. 109 liters

I'd say that size tank is a little on the small size for this species, so it'd be worth upgrading as soon as you get the chance. More space and more of their own kind should help to alleviate the nippiness problem.

Emma

just to make sure, their maximun size is 4-5 inches right?

oh, and any reason why they only pick on the rainbowfish? I have also have cherry barbs, rummy nose tetras, 2 female bettas, 1 hilstream, and 1 rubbertip pleco.

5" is correct. But don't forget they are fast-swimming river fish and need room to stretch their fins, as it were.

Emma