Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

For the past couple of months, the silvers have been content to spend most of their day sunbaking in a tight group on the bottom. They are mostly between 35 and 150mm and were even comfortable snuggling up to the marron. Over the past couple of days, they have spread themselves out a lot more. They also chase and act aggressively toward each other much like chooks or dogs (or kids) do when you throw them in together and they establish their pecking order.
Being new to the psychology and behavior of silvers, I ask is this normal? Is it some sort of ritual? They are well fed. I want them to grow and get fat, not become lean and mean like a tuna.

Ray

Hi Ray,
Is your water starting to warm up? I have had mine for only a few weeks and have noticed they are more active when the water is warmer.

We have just had a cold snap and the water temp went from near 18˚c to 8˚c but it's back to near 13˚c today and they are a lot more active and feeding much better.

It will definately be your water temps causing the ADHD! Once water temps reach about 18-19deg you will notice a complete behaviour change in SP, they go from boring often unseen to hyperactive hungry little buggers. I'm just preying for some warmer weather so I can actually see my guys, they hide right down the back of the tank amongst the air rocks and SLO pipe and are too hard for me to see unless I turn the air off and stir them up a bit, I try not to do this often, so havn't really seen them for 4 months or more.

Weather in Perth has warmed up over recent days. Pond has definitely warmed up.......tempted to go for a snorkel in there myself.

That must be it. Good to see the activity. Thanks all. Glad the fish are behaving normally.

Ray

I have had silvers overwintering in my aquariums inside and yes they do go nuts in warm water. They were all the same size when i got them but very soon the big ones emerged and became bullys. They are now out in the much colder AP tank and arent doing much at all.
Maybe we should send all the adhd kids to tasmania and cool them down

Would cause less grief than drugging them up on legal speed.