Aggressive Lineatus

RMS18 · Dec 7, 2018

This may have been an error on my part from the start. I added a new Male Lineatus wrasse as the first fish to my new 120 a few weeks ago. Over the next 1.5 weeks i was adding other new fish and existing fish in my old system. One of my existing fish is a Male leopard wrasse. The Lineatus did not like the Leopard and was attacking him to the point that the Leopard was staying in the sand for 23 hours a day.

I removed the Lineatus and placed him in a QT for now. Since removing him i added 3 more fish - none wrasses. The male leopard is now out and about normally.

I'm hoping removing him will delete territorial memory..

Suggestions on how long to keep him removed from the DT?
Any other suggestions for when adding him back in?

Thanks!

ca1ore · Dec 7, 2018

At least a month, longer = better

HairyGary · Dec 7, 2018

If you plan on adding other wrasses, add them first. The more wrasses you have in the DT the less aggressive he will be.

RMS18 · Dec 7, 2018

HairyGary said:
If you plan on adding other wrasses, add them first. The more wrasses you have in the DT the less aggressive he will be.

Does this apply to males or females?The reason I asked I have a male radiant and the Lineatus wtWras didn't pay any attention to him when I added him and the male leopard. The Lineatus only went after the male leapord.

HairyGary · Dec 7, 2018

I dont think it matters but seems like he just dislikes the leopard. In the long run adding more will reduce aggression and take his attention away from leopard.

RMS18 · Jan 1, 2019

It's a Christmas Miracle!

I pulled the Lineatus out for 3 weeks. When I placed him back in I placed him into a acclimation box for 4 days.

For the first two days he would try to attack the male leapord.

On the third day we noticed he would only flash the leapord.

On day 4 we still saw flashing but decided to let him go.

It was amazing how it went from the Lineatus bitting and attacking the leopard to the point of future death to no care in the world.

Once in a while if they swim past eachother there will be a quick flash, but no more aggression or attacking.