Expert: Eric Mathes - 5/12/2009

Question
I noticed this morning that two of my fish (One is a goldfish the other is an unknown brown colour) are pestering one of my Shubunkins. Sometimes it looks a little vicious.
These three have been living in the same pond for almost a year now. Why have they suddenly turned on my poor Shubunkin. He/She (how can you tell?) is the only one they bully. Why is this happening and what can I do?

Answer
Hey Tom this is a common problem. It is almost trial and error. In my salt water tank the fish that are introduced first think they own the tank and don't like new comers. Also when 1 fish gets bigger than the others it will become a bully. Sometimes you just get a bully. Make sure it has places to hide and try getting another Shubunkin maybe a little bigger. Your lone one is probably lonely also. Usually females are bigger than males, bigger stomachs. Thanks Eric