Confirm My Rabbitfish Mistake

BigHildy53 · Dec 2, 2016

I had three rabbitfish in my 180g DT. A Magnificent Rabbitfish, Decorated Rabbitfish and Virgate Rabbitfish. All were added at the same time on 11/11. Now I'm down to one; the Magnificent Rabbitfish. Unfortunately I have plenty of algae to graze. I do supplement once or twice a week with seaweed. My Desjardi Sailfin Tang continues to do well. Both dead rabbit fish were found on a power head. I don't have a fish autopsy

. Do you think it's safe to say that the mistake was trying to keep multiple rabbitfish? I thought they were getting along well. I didn't notice any fighting.

Diesel · Dec 2, 2016

It might as they can be mean to each other.
Were the rabbit fish the last fish you added to the tank?

#reefsquad

dbl · Dec 2, 2016

I would agree it was likely an aggression issue. I had two in a 120g that got along for quite a while. Eventually though I had to remove one and I have to say I got it out just in time! Sorry to hear about your loss though.

eatbreakfast · Dec 2, 2016

Usually rabbitfish of different species will coexist. Aggression is usually going to be noticed and last awhile to result in a death.

BigHildy53 · Dec 2, 2016

Diesel said:
Were the rabbit fish the last fish you added to the tank?

Yes, only snails have been added since the rabbitfish.

Keep on learning.

Diesel · Dec 2, 2016

They don't have to put up a big fight for us to be noticed.
The stings from their spines are paralyzing to them for a few minutes and just long enough for the poor fish get sucked in the pumps and evidentially couldn't move off and past.
Ever been stung by one?

eatbreakfast · Dec 3, 2016

Diesel said:
They don't have to put up a big fight for us to be noticed.
The stings from their spines are paralyzing to them for a few minutes and just long enough for the poor fish get sucked in the pumps and evidentially couldn't move off and past.
Ever been stung by one?

I have been stung by rabbits before, though not as often as foxfaces. Rabbits are less inclned to sting, and unless startled, the injection is not some rapid action. In fact, venom production is a high energy process and a rabbit would rather not use it at all. So unless it was the aggressor that got stung due to the victim being startled and quickly turning and using it's spines, you would notice definite displays. Dorsals spread wide and the fish engaged in horizontal/45° posturing would be noticed, as well as hiding behavior from subdominant individuals.