Getting along?
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:17 pm
So its been seven months now for my three T. suvattii and one T. palembangensis who share the same tank.They have all attained a similar size of approximately 5".They all fed the same diet twice a week which consists mainly of mussel, cockle, prawns, shell on king prawns, krill and snails.Each one is fed as individually as I can manage to ensure they all get their fair share which is important as they are only fed twice a week.
Feeding time at first was an issue with the more dominant suvatti taking as much as he could possibly get leaving the others with none or very little.I tried to help the others by feeding with tongs but the more aggressive suvattii would virtually take the food from their mouths.I have now got the feeding routine down to a fine art with no quarrels at all.This is part my doing by simply luring the dominant one away and feeding and part chance. The puffers how now established their own territories and each has its own cave or hiding place.If I can get to the tank before they realize its feeding time I can simply feed each one in their own quarters without there being any issues.
As for general aggression there has been none witnessed as of yet.The tank they are in has been situated in a more prominent position within the last two months for viewing.It has now become obvious that these puffers suvatti and more so the palembangensis are more active at night.
When I say there has been no aggression towards each other I have witnessed some 'threat' behavior towards the T. palembangensis. This consists of the suvattii flattening out its body and circling the palembang.This has always been enough to warn the palembang off and send him packing mainly because he has wandered to close to one of the suvatti caves.I have not quite worked out why though this only happens occasionally.The threat behavior can be sparked simply as mentioned yet other times I find the palembang resting on one of the suvattii in their cave as best buddies!
The aggression between suvattii - suvatti has been none existent.There has been the odd 'shoving' and 'nosing' out of the way but despite the three all having their own caves it is not uncommon to find them sharing on a regular basis.
I also find with the three suvatti that they all are different characters. Two of them bury, one often one not so often and one that I have never seen bury himself.
The palembangensis is a very shy puffer and can be very skittish if not careful.A couple of times now during maintenance I have seen him jump out of the water, startled only to land safely back into the tank.This puffer is a bit more of a picky eater. Sometimes he'll take prawns sometimes he won't.
For the last day or two and the reason for this post is that two of the suvattii have paired up alot more in one of the caves.In fact they have not separated since feeding time Saturday night. I have witnessed the two of them constantly swimming around each other for great periods of time.There is very little gravel left in the cave at the moment as they have dug a pit into the gravel and tonight as I type there is a constant 'fanning' movement from them. Is this mating behavior?
These are two photos taken tonight just before the lights went out.
Feeding time at first was an issue with the more dominant suvatti taking as much as he could possibly get leaving the others with none or very little.I tried to help the others by feeding with tongs but the more aggressive suvattii would virtually take the food from their mouths.I have now got the feeding routine down to a fine art with no quarrels at all.This is part my doing by simply luring the dominant one away and feeding and part chance. The puffers how now established their own territories and each has its own cave or hiding place.If I can get to the tank before they realize its feeding time I can simply feed each one in their own quarters without there being any issues.
As for general aggression there has been none witnessed as of yet.The tank they are in has been situated in a more prominent position within the last two months for viewing.It has now become obvious that these puffers suvatti and more so the palembangensis are more active at night.
When I say there has been no aggression towards each other I have witnessed some 'threat' behavior towards the T. palembangensis. This consists of the suvattii flattening out its body and circling the palembang.This has always been enough to warn the palembang off and send him packing mainly because he has wandered to close to one of the suvatti caves.I have not quite worked out why though this only happens occasionally.The threat behavior can be sparked simply as mentioned yet other times I find the palembang resting on one of the suvattii in their cave as best buddies!
The aggression between suvattii - suvatti has been none existent.There has been the odd 'shoving' and 'nosing' out of the way but despite the three all having their own caves it is not uncommon to find them sharing on a regular basis.
I also find with the three suvatti that they all are different characters. Two of them bury, one often one not so often and one that I have never seen bury himself.
The palembangensis is a very shy puffer and can be very skittish if not careful.A couple of times now during maintenance I have seen him jump out of the water, startled only to land safely back into the tank.This puffer is a bit more of a picky eater. Sometimes he'll take prawns sometimes he won't.
For the last day or two and the reason for this post is that two of the suvattii have paired up alot more in one of the caves.In fact they have not separated since feeding time Saturday night. I have witnessed the two of them constantly swimming around each other for great periods of time.There is very little gravel left in the cave at the moment as they have dug a pit into the gravel and tonight as I type there is a constant 'fanning' movement from them. Is this mating behavior?
These are two photos taken tonight just before the lights went out.