FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have two Algae eaters, I got them both at the same time, and they were about the same size. Now one of them has doubled in size, and he chases the smaller guy all over the tank when he tries to eat a wafer, or whenever he feels like it. He's Ok with the rest of my fish why does he torture the other guy? Is it normal? Why is he so much fatter than the other guy? This is my first fish tank, forgive my lack of knowledge. I also have 2 gouramis 1 blue dwarf, and 1 red dwarf, 2 columbian sharks, and a green cory.

[span class="edited"][Edited by MissChelle 2004-07-25 22:34][/span]

i had one of those guys before too. they can grow quite huge, same with your sharks, if your tank is less than...say.. 100 gallons, i would trade them in. how big is your tank?

they can get pretty territorial thats why he chases the little one around. and why not the other fish? because not all of your other fish swim at the bottom of yer tank, except for your cory, and C shark, but they are not chinese algae eaters(CAE)

as for why one is fatter... i am not sure really like human and any animals, some are slimmer while some are fatter?? i cant tell you the answer of this one. perhaps one is a male or female thats why one if bigger?? or just simply he is a born a bully.

well, good luck with your tank, its always good to know somebody new joined this hobby.

I second all that was mentioned above. Juveniles are generally tolerant of each other but they do fight as they mature. One is considerably larger than the other through dominance of the bully who is chasing the other from the good foodstuff provided. Its similar in cichlids that one suffers and remains smaller than the rest, as you only have two....