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jejton

Senior Member
Location
Suffolk
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I have two PJ cardinals about 2 months ago and they have been together in my DT for a month. They both eat and act mostly normal but lately one has been acting more aggressive to the other with the result that the latter is starting to not look as vibrant - some tear on the fins, not as bright coloring but still eating. They are my only two fish - have one percula in quarantine. Will the aggression dissapate as I add other fish? Should I add another PJ cardinal ? I originally wanted three but the store only had three and the third wasnt eating and looked sick. Does anyone know how to sex them?
 

ihatefish

Experienced Reefer
Location
long island
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i had the same problem and i added another one and it got alot better but i have no idea how 2 sex them, i would maybe try buying it a drink or maybe a movie.
 

ming

LE Coral Killer
Location
Flushing, NY
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fighting for domination.. probably same sex
the winner will harass the loser and the weaker cardinal will probably cower in the corner after he gets beat up enough until he starves to death.. that is unless you have a large enough tank with LOTS of hiding spots.. then he might be able to run away enough to heal but if it already has torn fins.. probably not
 

jejton

Senior Member
Location
Suffolk
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Ming - its a 65 gallon but has lots of crevices and hiding spots. It just doesnt use them too often. I have seen it eat though. Do you think adding a third will help the situation?
 

ming

LE Coral Killer
Location
Flushing, NY
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Based off my banggai cardinal experience...which should be very similar

I don't consider a 65 large because its only 3' in length.
and you need to remove the weaker one, adding another one will get either let get the 3rd beat up as well if its the same sex, if its the opposite sex, the dominant one will probably try to mate with it and they'll gang up on the weak one. Either way the weak one is screwed.
 

Bob 1000

Advanced Reefer
Location
Staten Island
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The way to stop the aggression is to get a bigger tank..lol..j/k... I had 4 and I don't know if i got lucky or they change sex some how.. all were fighting one day and the next day they were paired off and then eggs in the mouth every 2 weeks.. One pair to each side of the tank..
 

meschaefer

One to Ignore
Location
Astoria
Rating - 100%
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fighting for domination.. probably same sex
the winner will harass the loser and the weaker cardinal will probably cower in the corner after he gets beat up enough until he starves to death.. that is unless you have a large enough tank with LOTS of hiding spots.. then he might be able to run away enough to heal but if it already has torn fins.. probably not

I completely agree, in your tank they will go at it until one of them is dead.
 

jejton

Senior Member
Location
Suffolk
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no i meant trade one pj for another pj and hope its of the opposite sex. i really like them and originally wanted three or four in the hopes of getting a pair out of them and trading out the others.
 

h20 freak

Advanced Reefer
Location
PA =(
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no i meant trade one pj for another pj and hope its of the opposite sex. i really like them and originally wanted three or four in the hopes of getting a pair out of them and trading out the others.
Thats what I wanted to do with bangais, but I never found tank-breds besides ORA but I can't buy from them
 

meschaefer

One to Ignore
Location
Astoria
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no i meant trade one pj for another pj and hope its of the opposite sex. i really like them and originally wanted three or four in the hopes of getting a pair out of them and trading out the others.

I need a smiley slapping his head and saying "duh".

That might work. I have a banggai that I keep in a holding tank. My plan is to get a couple of more and then introduce them together in a controlled setting until I flush out a pair. Cardinals can be sexed, but the differences are very slight and I do not think that they are readily apparent until they have spawned for the first time.
 

jejton

Senior Member
Location
Suffolk
Rating - 100%
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ok so I might put one of them in the sump, buy 1 or 2 more, quarantine them and then add all three back in at the same time. Would that be ok or keeping it in the sump for 2-3 weeks be worse than leaving him in the tank? He is eating and the tank has no other fish so there are plenty of nooks and crannies for it to hide in ( though he seems to prefer hanging out with the bully. go figure).
 

meschaefer

One to Ignore
Location
Astoria
Rating - 100%
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ok so I might put one of them in the sump, buy 1 or 2 more, quarantine them and then add all three back in at the same time. Would that be ok or keeping it in the sump for 2-3 weeks be worse than leaving him in the tank? He is eating and the tank has no other fish so there are plenty of nooks and crannies for it to hide in ( though he seems to prefer hanging out with the bully. go figure).

Should no be a problem, as long as there is no chance of him getting caught in a pump.
 

h20 freak

Advanced Reefer
Location
PA =(
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....And that he still gets fed. Do you have a fuge?Im sure he would love some time with the now unprotected fuge pods.
 

jejton

Senior Member
Location
Suffolk
Rating - 100%
26   0   0
I bought two young PJ's and they are now in quarantine with the clownfish. I will move the existing PJ into the skimme return section of my sump ( slow flow and some rocks and cheato in there so we will stay happy and fed ) and after a couple of weeks I will introduce all four fish into the DT together with the first cardinal. Hopefully they'll work out and maybe get a pair out of it. If I do, I will trade out the other two. I'll let you guys know how it works out.
 

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