PJ Cardinal Issue

malx

malx

Active member
Hi, Everyone.

Weird stuff happening. I have two PJ Cardinals and one Green Chromis in QT. The larger PJ is harassing the smaller PJ. I thought PJs were peaceful and could be put together in a tank. My QT is only 10 gallon and they are eventually going in a 55 gallon. Considering returning the larger one (the aggressive one).

Has anyone experienced this?

Let me know,
Joey
 
I had the similar experience. I had 3 PJs (about 4 -5 years old) in my 210 and one died of infection. I purchased a replacement online and rx a tiny PJ. After QT/observation and I moved it into the DT. Right away, the other 2 PJ turned very aggressive toward the new PJ. They harassed this poor guy for two days, nipped off some fins and tail. I was going to get it out but decided to wait a bit longer and the next day they all calm back down and no more aggression. Since my tank is 210 and lots of space for the little one to hide, IDK about the 55. IMO, I believed the aggression is direct to the larger PJ (male) trying to dominating over the smaller (female) and would calm down once he realized she is no threat to him. So, it's still a risk to try to keep them both. Maybe you can try exchange the bigger one with another one similar size to the small one or vise-versa. good luck
 
Depends, I have a small group of 5 and they all get along fine. But, they all came from the same tank at the LFS, qt'd together, and released together.
 
Thanks for the tip everyone! I'm going to wait a few days and see if he calms down. It's weird they came from the same tank and looked fine. If he does not calm down I'm going to return the bigger one. I don't like bullies!
 
People often say cardinals are peaceful, and they can be, but I've had a few aggressive ones as well. Like any fish, they all have their own personalities.
 
Pajama Cardinalfish will form a strict hierarchy when kept in small groups within the aquarium. most of the time its non life threatening. sometimes when only 2 and tank too small the bigger one will harass too much. just keep and eye on it. plus you say you dont like bully, all fish are bullys, its what they do. its survival of the fittest out there. the little guy would be a bully if you got a smaller one
 
Had 3 banggai Big one killed both of the smaller one and bullies the crap out of my fairy wrasse. Definitely king of the tank


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
FullBoreReefer said:
Depends, I have a small group of 5 and they all get along fine. But, they all came from the same tank at the LFS, qt'd together, and released together.
Click to expand...

+1

If I buy more then one type of fish, I try to get then in the same group from the same place. Any newbies with either fall in line, or be dealt with quickly. In my tank the PJ Cardinals are on the bottom, and the Clownfish will pick on them from time to time. But for some reason, no one bothers the Yellow Tang.
 
Hi, Everyone.

The bully PJ is still aggressively going after the other PJ. Took him out and put him in a separate container with a heater and an airstone. I figured to punish him for an hour and than put him back to see if he behaves differently. The second I took him out, the other one was swimming around happily. What do you guys think? Put him back or return him?

Let me know,
Joey
 
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