VATF aggression with each other, will it get better with size?

[fishtankphil]

I have 3 vits in a 500 gal with other fish, they are the samllest in comparison to the other fish. They eat well together and most of time tolerate each othet but then there are times they chase one another and i see bites and small scratches on their sides, tears in their fins, etc. My question is will the aggressive subside as they grow in size. Presently 7 to 8" each one. They have plenty of room and ample water flow and filtration. Ive never tried a trio before so any help would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Supervee]

When Ash had his big group he said they fought here and there but for the most part got along. He had good strong flow and when he added new fish would turn his pumps on full blast.

 

[fishtankphil]

Im more concerned as they grow will it subside down some or will it be the same? Obviously nobody can foretell the future, im more interested in what others experiences are.

 

[Supervee]

When keeping predatory fish it's always gonna be a hit or miss. You'll get fish that get along and fish that don't. I've had ATF that got along and some that didn't. But most the time I had problems with other fish picking on them. But keeping a group of ATF it helps to have more. 3 barely works.

 

[moe214]

I'd think they'd get a little more territorial as the grow.

 

[fishtankphil]

I have a goliath im growing out at the moment too so perhaps it will help, we'll see. Im still waiting on some input from anyone with experience in this.

 

[DB junkie]

Started with 3, ended with one. Watched the last one kill itself in a freakout session while feeding. Skimmeed across the top of the water straight into the side of the tank and belly up.

The 3 fought constantly. Older they got the worse it got. My fish was about 14" when it killed itself. 6x3x 20" tank, 4 lil marbles (all under a foot) and a 6 in gold wolf was all that was in the tank.

Have no plans of ever owning Vatf again. Waste of time in my opinion. I put years into that fish and to watch it off itself so stupidly was a big fat disapointment. My Tanzys are so much less skittish in the same size tank it's not even comparable. Only thing that freaks out worse then Vatf are Gatf.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

I started with 3 VATF and 2 GATF and 4 tinfoil barbs in 10x4x4 foots tank, they still fight each other even i have dither mixed in, after time I ended up 4x barbs still alive but only 1x GATF left and its grow around 15 inches then my friend kid freaked it out by sudden run up to the tank and hit the tank glass and made it move as a torpedo speed from 1 side to other side and hit the tank wall, its died few mins later! So I do agree with DB that is a waste of time and afford to grow them out and died for some stupid reason, I BANNED all friend kids enter my house after that...NO EXCEPTION!

 

[fishtankphil]

Damn guys, ur stories are depressing! What about ash thompson, ive seen his videos with hiz school of tigers and they look good. Besides another 1 or 2 others that have had tigers grow out and have a small school of them. Idk its very weird. One min they act well the next they attack each other! Its unreal. Idk, going to wait and see what happens but i appreciate all ur inputs!

 

[Chicxulub]

The mesopredatory ATF shoal when they're younger, but the shoals break up with the fish becoming increasingly intolerant of each other when they reach sexual maturity at 15 to 18 inches or so. Brevis and Goliath never shoal as youngsters. I've not seen proper field data on tanzaniae either way.

Ime, ATF need to be in a specimen tank for it to work long term. Anything else is inviting failure in time.