Which of these fish are aggressive?

mosquito · 11-03-2011, 11:34 PM

We have a fairly large pond in India. I am not sure of the size but the fish have plenty of space. In the last few months fish have been dying (and sometimes being partially eaten) and I am not sure which of the fish are to blame. There are koi, goldfish and plecos and I am sure these are fine. We also have large pacus and small gauramis. I'm sure the pacus are doing the eating, but I am not convinced they are killing the fish. I have never seen them act aggressively. The gauramis are aggressive and are currently defending a lotus - could they kill a young koi? There are also a couple of small catfish - I don't know which sort but the shop assured me they were not aggressive (after we got rid of several other catfish that were).

NeonShark666 · 11-03-2011, 11:55 PM

None of your fish would normally kill Koi. Do aquatic birds have access to your pond? Also, do you have any large reptiles near your pond (snakes, monitors, alligators)? They would also eat your Koi. Koi are brightly colored and can not hide from natural predators.

mosquito · 11-04-2011, 12:01 AM

Snakes have access and we have seen kingfishers. Some of these fish died at a time when the pond was covered though (with a grid made from bamboo). A snake could still have access. Would a bird or snake leave a half-eaten fish? (this is the usual state I find them in).

susankat · 11-04-2011, 01:04 AM

If the fish had died but not removed the other fish will eat on the carcus. It could have been about anything that could have killed one and not able to remove it. Or there could also be some other underlying cause.

mosquito · 11-04-2011, 01:19 AM

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I thought the dead fish were getting eaten in some instances (probably by the pacu). The fish are healthy in the afternoon and dead by the morning (it always happens at night / early morning), and this has happened so many times now that I believe it is a predator (rather than illness). It is often (but not always) the new fish that are dying. The large kois, plecos, golfish, pacus, gauramis, catfish stay alive. I am getting quite desperate to figure out how to stop it happening.

11-03-2011, 11:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
mosquito Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 4 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Which of these fish are aggressive? We have a fairly large pond in India. I am not sure of the size but the fish have plenty of space. In the last few months fish have been dying (and sometimes being partially eaten) and I am not sure which of the fish are to blame. There are koi, goldfish and plecos and I am sure these are fine. We also have large pacus and small gauramis. I'm sure the pacus are doing the eating, but I am not convinced they are killing the fish. I have never seen them act aggressively. The gauramis are aggressive and are currently defending a lotus - could they kill a young koi? There are also a couple of small catfish - I don't know which sort but the shop assured me they were not aggressive (after we got rid of several other catfish that were).

11-03-2011, 11:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
NeonShark666 Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 806 Name: Jim Location: Salem, Oregon Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 78 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 247 Times in 237 Posts	Re: Which of these fish are aggressive? None of your fish would normally kill Koi. Do aquatic birds have access to your pond? Also, do you have any large reptiles near your pond (snakes, monitors, alligators)? They would also eat your Koi. Koi are brightly colored and can not hide from natural predators.

11-04-2011, 12:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
mosquito Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 4 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Which of these fish are aggressive? Snakes have access and we have seen kingfishers. Some of these fish died at a time when the pond was covered though (with a grid made from bamboo). A snake could still have access. Would a bird or snake leave a half-eaten fish? (this is the usual state I find them in).

11-04-2011, 01:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,417 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,150 Times Said "Thanks" 1,610 Times Was Thanked 1,808 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: Which of these fish are aggressive? If the fish had died but not removed the other fish will eat on the carcus. It could have been about anything that could have killed one and not able to remove it. Or there could also be some other underlying cause. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

11-04-2011, 01:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
mosquito Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 4 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Which of these fish are aggressive? Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I thought the dead fish were getting eaten in some instances (probably by the pacu). The fish are healthy in the afternoon and dead by the morning (it always happens at night / early morning), and this has happened so many times now that I believe it is a predator (rather than illness). It is often (but not always) the new fish that are dying. The large kois, plecos, golfish, pacus, gauramis, catfish stay alive. I am getting quite desperate to figure out how to stop it happening.

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