Check adult requirements
Record the baseline and check accepted food and responsible origin. Do not infer the aquarium's condition from a single sign. Confirm scientific identity, adult size, diet, social behaviour and swimming zone.
Then compare adult size, aggression and territory with livestock needs and recent changes. Look for genuine overlap in water, flow, territory and feeding throughout the year.
Assess compatibility and welfare
Adjust one variable and assess a mature system with quarantine and maintenance capacity before continuing. Keep a reference so the result can be compared. Plan the complete group and monitor feeding, breathing, injury, shelter and space use.
Hardy cannot compensate for an immature aquarium or erase territorial behaviour.