Am I making my fish aggressive somehow?!

[Leslie Tabor]

I have been very careful to select "community" "peaceful" fish however, they all seem to be the exception to the rule. My male Watanabei is BRUTAL. I just added a beautiful little Pearlscale Butterfly and he is relentlessly harassing it. It is defending itself well with its spines but how long can that go on before stress kills it (or me)??? I try to be careful, everything I read said they should be compatible. I am so frustrated!! Am I not feeding enough? Too much? Not enough water movement? I am kinda just venting but feel free to throw ideas out there or even just experiences!! ;Hurting;Dead;Blackeye;Wacky

 

[Diesel]

Leslie,
You can never be to careful in this hobby.
Many reefers use a acclimation box for a few days.
In that case the existing fishies in the tank can put a eye out on the new kid on the block and in most cases when release is there all is cool.
In your case keep a eye out on the new kid and hoping that by time they leave him alone.
You got a FTS?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

How often are you feeding? What is the size of the tank and the fish list?

 

[ca1ore]

Things that can exacerbate aggression: under feeding, not enough space, not enough flow .....

 

[nereefpat]

I'm most curious about tank size and the size of the angel.

 

[Diesel]

She got a 300gallon tank guys.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Using an acclimation box for a few days is an excellent idea.

What is the feeding regimen? What's the flow like?

 

[mort]

Do you just have a male wantanabei? If so it might be taking its normal territorial aggression out on other things. Even if you haveva pair or trio it could just be acting the same way they do in the wild as planktavores can be a bit nippy. Try heavy feeding, so they have something else to do and don't feel as competitive, and increased flow, so it's more natural, can sometimes help.
An auto feeder despensing just a few pellets every 30 minute or so can work, it's also great for anthias and chromis who can show the same behaviour.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Hey! Sorry for the lack of info, it was late, I was beat! In setting up my new tank we discovered it is actually just shy of 400 gal. It is 6' x 3' x 30". My male Watanabei has 3 beautiful ladies.
I feed pretty heavy, but only 2 times a day. So the autofeeder is something I am looking into, my fish are fat so I never worried but I will try anything.
I did get the butterfly from my FS, they are awesome if I need to take it back. My Watanabei male is my largest fish (next to my Engineer Goby) and he is about 6".
I feed a variety, not the same every day: LRS foods - Reef, Fish, and Herbivore, Eggs, PE Mysis, Nori, TDO Chromaboost. I stock up on pods for my mandarin and scooters.
I put 3 returns on the new tank and I have the 2 Gyres linked with their controller. I run that on the LTC setting. I could add my MP 60 if I needed to...ok I think that covers everything. Thanks guys, it is awesome to talk through this stuff with people. My hubby just thinks I am nuts! Lol

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Do you just have a male wantanabei? If so it might be taking its normal territorial aggression out on other things. Even if you haveva pair or trio it could just be acting the same way they do in the wild as planktavores can be a bit nippy. Try heavy feeding, so they have something else to do and don't feel as competitive, and increased flow, so it's more natural, can sometimes help.
An auto feeder despensing just a few pellets every 30 minute or so can work, it's also great for anthias and chromis who can show the same behaviour.

Thanks for this! I do have a male lyretail that used to be my problem child, then my midas blenny put him in his place! Lol is there an autofeeder you have used and like? I was looking at the Apex one as I now have an Apex and it has VERY mixed reviews.

 

[Diesel]

That’s a great build Leslie.
Many women want a 400 gallon hot tub you want a tank .
Looking forwards to see some pics of that beauty.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

My demon...
How can something soooo handsome be such a putz!?!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

That’s a great build Leslie.
Many women want a 400 gallon hot tub you want a tank .
Looking forwards to see some pics of that beauty.

Hahaha this is awesome! I think my husband would prefer the hot tub! I had help setting this one up and it was so cute, they kept saying "we" would be so happy with parts of the set up (we made a controller room out of a closet). I was thinking "there is no WE" I am addicted, he is just happy I can't fit a BIGGER tank into the house! Lol

 

[Diesel]

Hahaha this is awesome! I think my husband would prefer the hot tub! I had help setting this one up and it was so cute, they kept saying "we" would be so happy with parts of the set up (we made a controller room out of a closet). I was thinking "there is no WE" I am addicted, he is just happy I can't fit a BIGGER tank into the house! Lol

Pics or it didn’t happen

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Pics or it didn’t happen

I am on it!

 

[Diesel]

I am on it!

Well........... we are waiting

 

[eatbreakfast]

Hey! Sorry for the lack of info, it was late, I was beat! In setting up my new tank we discovered it is actually just shy of 400 gal. It is 6' x 3' x 30". My male Watanabei has 3 beautiful ladies.
I feed pretty heavy, but only 2 times a day. So the autofeeder is something I am looking into, my fish are fat so I never worried but I will try anything.
I did get the butterfly from my FS, they are awesome if I need to take it back. My Watanabei male is my largest fish (next to my Engineer Goby) and he is about 6".
I feed a variety, not the same every day: LRS foods - Reef, Fish, and Herbivore, Eggs, PE Mysis, Nori, TDO Chromaboost. I stock up on pods for my mandarin and scooters.
I put 3 returns on the new tank and I have the 2 Gyres linked with their controller. I run that on the LTC setting. I could add my MP 60 if I needed to...ok I think that covers everything. Thanks guys, it is awesome to talk through this stuff with people. My hubby just thinks I am nuts! Lol

Try feeding smaller meals more frequently, rather than 2 big meals.

The eheim Autofeeder is an inexpensive workhorse.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Ok so the lights come on at noon and so far so good. No one is trying to kill anyone. Maybe Mr. Crabs got tired of being stabbed! Lol

 

[YellowFinsReef]

I concur with the acclimation boxes. When I first got my femininus wrasse and I thought everything was gonna be fine, my potter's wrasse immediately went for it. Huge and expensive mistake on my end that my carelessness allowed a $50 fish to harm a $1000 fish. Now, nothing goes into the tank without sitting in a critter keeper for a day to several days (if I witness aggression).

 

[Eva Rose]

All the tips above are great. Here is another I read somewhere in one of @4FordFamily 's** posts.-
Try adding food in a different spot in addiion to the normal spot. So for me, my angel loved meaty foods & loved to pick on the nori clip. I added an extra nori clip per **his tip. It helped tremendously & they all settled down.

For fish competing over meaty foods I use a turkey baster and blow some to one side for my boisterous fish. Then while they are busy, I blow a smaller amount on the opposite side for the timid or slow fish.