Assessors

[roverhere]

I have three in a 90, and still there is some aggression.

They share space with a lone yellow (who lost its mate last summer in a heating issue).

I've got a 4th to add to them - was paired up with another in a 30 long, but the mate jumped

My three in the standard 90, tend to hang to one side, but do venture throughout. One is generally "more alone" than the other two, and tends to be the one who gets chased off... not any physical damage to date has been apparent, but there's charging/chasing and intimidation by the two (paired?) agains the third... so much for "harems" in captivity.

I've grown worried about including the 4th given the possiblity of more aggression, but so far (nearly 8 months) and nothing resembling spawning behavior or any eggs in the mouth (if they even actually breed that way).... My yellows DID show spawning behavior - and one of them would dissapear into their nest for a week+ whenever there was eggs - no eating, no coming out, nothing - upwards of 10 days, but eggs were in a place I couldn't get to in order to pull out or really even observe well, and no fry has every been seen...

 

[Peter Schmiedel]

Christian,

honestly there is not much social behavior to watch as I mostly don't see the fish enough to watch real behavior. There is nothing observed which I would consider as pair bonding ect. I did have a few times fish carrying eggs so I am sure to have both genders. I do see a preference for one area of the tank, but assume that this is due to flow rate and light condition.

Keep in mind that this genus does normally live in caves and shodow areas where they mostly are observed belly faced towards the celing or the cave sides. I do observe similar behavior as my back panel and the overflow corners are covered with a foam that makes it look like life rock - in the shadow zone they hang out belly faced this artifical wall ( pic from constuction phase : http://www.reefsafe.de/becken.htm)

Also my main tank has a good fishload with peacefull fish (mostly Cirrhilabrus) the Acessor are often not to see and only fpr feeding I can be sure to see them all.

 

[clownfish75]

thanks for all the info guys, i will definately try expanding their living arangements, might try leaving a big and small one behing in the 10 gal see what happens.

biggest problem is i only have a 3ft tank at th moment, i dont think a pair of sunrise dottyback will understand little blue fish arent dinner, if i put them in a 6 ft tank.

Christian

 

[rlpardue]

Bump!