Chip creates his own problems. Tonight I saw him trailing Brick and attempting to nip his tail. This is obviously 'payback' for being banged around so much. No damage happens. The Oscar (pretends) to ignore him and swims away leisurely. Then he suddenly turns and blasts Chip, sending the severum shooting across the tank. For good measure he'll chase the severum round and round and for a minute, forcing him into the plants.
Chip does the 'flivver fin flick' and body shake thing at Boss but its a waste of time and Boss ignores it. None of the severums' intimidation moves impress the parrot. Boss charges and pops him, so Chip does the sidewinder shimmy shake and backs off. The parrot rattles him more even though he runs from the O. From what I've seen the reason is that once he starts a fight with Boss he'll have to do it all day, every day. He can't handle that level of aggression. So he gives up to take a break. Then he starts up all over again.
Just like with humans...some are brilliant, some average, some dumb. My severum is all territorial aggression with no self preservation instinct. Chip may just be...dumb.