Dwarf angel pair.. what to do with them...

[Reefin' Alaska]

So I introduced 2 flamebacks at the same time, one considerably bigger than the other. 4ft tank..

Thing were okay the first few days, and the big one got super aggressive towards the smaller one. I've managed to catch them both early in the AM when they were passed out in the corner of the tank, and they are in a breeder box separated.

I don't really know where to go from here. Giving them back to the LFS is the first thought on my mind because the bigger dwarf doesn't seem to want any new fish in the tank at all. He was aggressive with my marine betta when I added it as well. I would like them to live in harmony, but I'm cautious because I currently have them both caught after about a 3 day battle to catch them. My concern is if I put them back in, I'll never catch them again, my rock is glued together, so breaking down rock isn't really a possibility to make it easier.

 

[Snoopy 67]

I had one, same disposition, chewed the tail on an eel all the time.
ONE & DONE for me.

 

[Reefin' Alaska]

I had one, same disposition, chewed the tail on an eel all the time.
ONE & DONE for me.

I think that's where I'm leaning too. I don't think they'll go back into the population. LFS said they'd take them.

 

[i cant think]

So I introduced 2 flamebacks at the same time, one considerably bigger than the other. 4ft tank..

Thing were okay the first few days, and the big one got super aggressive towards the smaller one. I've managed to catch them both early in the AM when they were passed out in the corner of the tank, and they are in a breeder box separated.

I don't really know where to go from here. Giving them back to the LFS is the first thought on my mind because the bigger dwarf doesn't seem to want any new fish in the tank at all. He was aggressive with my marine betta when I added it as well. I would like them to live in harmony, but I'm cautious because I currently have them both caught after about a 3 day battle to catch them. My concern is if I put them back in, I'll never catch them again, my rock is glued together, so breaking down rock isn't really a possibility to make it easier.

Keep one, get rid of the other.

The smaller one won’t be as aggressive so I wouldn’t get rid of that one just because one of them is rogue.

 

[dakoop]

Back to the lfs

 

[Whisperer]

Keep one, get rid of the other.

The smaller one won’t be as aggressive so I wouldn’t get rid of that one just because one of them is rogue.

They are likely establishing a pecking order. In my experience, they usually settle down and get used to each other’s presence after a few days. My Pygmy angel harassed one of my flameback (I have two) upon transferring from another tank. The flameback had been nipped bad but I couldn’t catch either one. So I gave up and prepared to lose the flameback. About a week later, the Pygmy stopped chasing and the flameback’s tail healed. I suggest observing them for a few days as long as one is not getting severely beaten up.

 

[aherre07]

Release the small one into the tank while keeping the larger of the two in an acclimation box in the tank. After a few days of allowing the smaller to settle in release the larger one. I've had pairs of these before and has been my favorite pair of dwarfs. Currently have a breeding pair of flame angels. Where I paired them the same way.

 

[cancun]

My experience is similar....I had a big fat flameback a couple of years, and a few months ago he decided to go after any new fish added, no matter if it was a Wrasse or what. So I caught him and traded him in at my LFS. He was a terror. No more flamebacks for me. My tank is 200 gallons....

You could trade the aggressive one back in to the LFS and keep the other one. If you want two dwarfs you could get another more mild mannered dwarf, and add him with your flameback you are keeping. Good luck!

 

[Zionas]

Flamebacks tend to be some of the more aggressive dwarf angels and they can pack a punch. I think it’s just them sorting out who’s going to be the male with the larger one asserting its dominance, but even a 4ft tank might be a bit on the small side for pairing a more aggressive Centropyge. I’m not sure but you might have better luck pairing a less aggressive species.

 

[Reefin' Alaska]

Flamebacks tend to be some of the more aggressive dwarf angels and they can pack a punch. I think it’s just them sorting out who’s going to be the male with the larger one asserting its dominance, but even a 4ft tank might be a bit on the small side for pairing a more aggressive Centropyge. I’m not sure but you might have better luck pairing a less aggressive species.

The bigger one has been banished to the sump for at least 2 weeks, I go up tonight for my hitch at work, so that's where he's at until then.

Smaller one is A LOT more peaceful, you can even tell in the way the fish swim in the tank currently with the bigger dwarf out, while maybe he wasn't actively chasing them, you can see how much calmer ALL the fish are in the tank - I'm not even sure that makes sense. Lol!

But, I never saw the angel chase my starry around, but the starry was out and about almost all day yesterday, I used to see the blenny only at feeding time and maybe a couple other times during the week. Perhaps some aggression issues I didn't notice going on?