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RE: Questions from a beginner Chris Scharpf's E-Mail
On 25 Sep 1996, Chris Scharpf wrote:
> I have no hard evidence to support this, but I believe intentional
> over-crowding (assuming, of course, the filter can handle the bio-load),
> reduces the aggressive impulse. I've seen public aquaria loaded with large
> centarchids (and other territorial fishes) who seem to be getting along quite
> nicely.
> I would be interested if anyone has had any similar -- or dissimilar --
> experiences.
Ok, you've asked for it... :-). As far as similarity to Cichlids, there
is quite a bit. Anyone familiar with the new genera carved from the old
Cichlasoma will recognize Archocentrus, the type species of which is
centarchus. Centarchus is (its something similar anyhow) the genus into
which many Sunnies go, a scientific way of saying "Hey, these fish are
sorta alike." Also, a while ago I sent an E-Mail dealin with Bass in the
genus Cichla. Again, just a little note on the affinity of the Sunfish
family (To which bass belong) and the Cichlid Family.... Ok, enough with
all this scientific truck. Sunfish and many of the cichlids, especialy
the south/mesoamerican ones, are very similar, and (by inference... not
neccessarily true, but in this case so...) can be kept under the same
rules. Overcrowding will help minimize aggression, as well as
undercrowding (to extremes) and the use of target fishes. I preffer the
latter and not the former method myself, but as anyone who knows me can
attest to, I'm weird.
Occasionaly overcrowding in fishes with good pecking orders will result
in more fish to "peck" on the ones at the bottom. Not neccessarily a
good thing.. :-)
<><
J. L. Wiegert
NANF List Manager
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