2 Bellus purchased a day apart

[alwmh4]

My female arrived today and the male arrives tomm. I've read that they need to be added at the same time. Is one day apart acceptable?

 

[lonbrat]

It may or may not be. Does the female have a territory already ? I wouldn't worry too much. It will probably be fine.

 

[alwmh4]

Tank is dark right now but I did create a cave that she's hanging out in. I can make one on other side of tank for the male. But would that only encourage them not bonding? The male is bigger that the female... If that matters

 

[alwmh4]

Or I can deconstruct the cave I made already so she doesn't "settle" in. Not sure best way to go about it

 

[pinnatus]

Re-arrange tank, set new territories. I would think it won't matter, but if it does, re-arrange the tank.

 

[lonbrat]

Re-arrange tank, set new territories. I would think it won't matter, but if it does, re-arrange the tank.

+1

Id keep it dim so each fish gets about a days worth of settling in

 

[alwmh4]

Ok. I'll have light on lowest setting but for only about 4 hrs each day.

 

[snorvich]

Do you not believe in quarantining?

 

[alwmh4]

I do for fish that can not be stressed by being put in smaller tank. My qt tank is only 17 ga

 

[JoeVandal49]

I have had success sticking all my nets into the tank on introduction of new fish. The established fish hide and the new fish generally struts around like they own the place.

It was a trick passed on to me by a local old timer.

 

[o2manyfish]

If you have a Bellus hanging out in a cave, then that fish hasn't adjusted yet to her new home. My experience with Bellus is they are always out in open water swimming. They may swim through a cave but these fish don't hang out in caves.

I would watch that fish closely, that is not behavior I would associate with a happy Bellus.

Dave B

 

[Giovanni]

if you have a bellus hanging out in a cave, then that fish hasn't adjusted yet to her new home. My experience with bellus is they are always out in open water swimming. They may swim through a cave but these fish don't hang out in caves.

I would watch that fish closely, that is not behavior i would associate with a happy bellus.

Dave b

+1

 

[alwmh4]

Hmm guess I thought with having just put her in an hour prior and with lights off, that hiding in cave would be acceptable, even anticipated. I'll watch her though.

 

[alwmh4]

She's out and eating this am. Male arrived alive. So far ok but test will be eating