Sudden aggression with biota mandarins

[jetson]

I have a pair of biota mandarins that have been doing very in my 75g. Both eat pellets and pods and while the female seems to have a shy personality, they’ve both been in the tank less than 3 months so not too concerned as long as I can observe them eating.
Today, the male had the female in his mouth and was shaking her around like a chew toy. Is this normal behavior? I realize 2 males will fight, but this is unexpected. Managed to catch video, google drive link since direct upload doesn’t seem to like the video.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I have a pair of biota mandarins that have been doing very in my 75g. Both eat pellets and pods and while the female seems to have a shy personality, they’ve both been in the tank less than 3 months so not too concerned as long as I can observe them eating.
Today, the male had the female in his mouth and was shaking her around like a chew toy. Is this normal behavior? I realize 2 males will fight, but this is unexpected. Managed to catch video, google drive link since direct upload doesn’t seem to like the video.

Doesn't seem normal to me. Are you sure they aren't both males?

 

[jetson]

Doesn't seem normal to me. Are you sure they aren't both males?

I never noticed the pointed dorsal on the smaller one, just took a close look and it might be possible. Guess I’ll be reaching out to biota in the morning.

 

[RobertK]

@Biota_Marine
@FeliciaM

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I never noticed the pointed dorsal on the smaller one, just took a close look and it might be possible. Guess I’ll be reaching out to biota in the morning.

Can you separate them for now? I'm not sure how long the smaller one will last with that kind of aggression.

 

[jetson]

I think so. And a temporary tank for the small one until I rehome it.

 

[dedragon]

you can just use an acclimation box in tank for now to observe. i also usually put the aggressor in the box and not the victim. this will give the little guy a better chance to recover

 

[afboundguy]

Any chance you could take a picture of the separated female? Size wise they look like male and female if you got them at the same time and I've had a pair for a while and never seen anything like that!