Lemonpeel angelfish aggression towards tang!

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I wholeheartedly agree with this. Fish can and do decide to challenge the "pecking order" with or without my intervention. Friends today - competition tomorrow...

I also feed my fish well and feed them often. While this doesn't always eliminate every issue, it does tend to minimize or at least reduce the intensity of negative interactions.

I agree with the pecking order to an extent. I believe some steps were taken to help distract or disperse aggression. As you mentioned with feeding. Habitually, you probably fed well before adding a new fish, and fed well after which is a form of intervention, you are taking a measure to help reduce aggression. Dumping a new tank mate in Willy Nilly (I’m not saying that’s what happened here btw) and hoping for the best is what I advocate against. Normal pecking order dynamics aren’t that much of an issue in say a larger tank with lots of other tank mates and hiding places. In a smaller tank, with few hiding spaces and only one other presents an issue. Regardless, if the issue persists, which it can even taking every measure possible to acclimate, sometimes you just have to separate. There’s no reason to let animals duke it out to death.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I kind of get both sides. It's like any pet, and I have tons of all kinds. If you just "throw" them together you're gonna end up with fights and aggression, but if you are too cautious and try to "acclimate" them too much and don't allow natural behaviors, it can cause aggression in a completely different way. For example, I have a lot of dogs, when we get a new one we spend a good few days to a week introducing them and giving them time to get to know each other before they are left alone, to prevent anyone from getting hurt. Though, you gotta let them growl at each other, nip and bear teeth, or at least show their dislike/unhappiness in their natural way, or they end up with complexes that make them more aggressive without warning signs. Now they all get along really well, though we get growing from time to time, they also know how to respect each other's space/boundaries/etc.

In some ways, you do I think need to at least give them time, or the right setup to have a chance to get to know each other safely, but at some point, you do need to let them just figure it out on their own.

Think about it this way, what if you were upset with someone that you were forced to share a room with; you were yelling at them telling them not to steal your stuff and invading your space. But whoever put you in this room keeps getting in trouble for "yelling" or "showing aggression", and you keep getting put in a box for it. Would you feel that is any more morally ethical?

I get the pecking order of things, it’s natural and isn’t prevented by acclimating. Similar to you with dogs, I use an acclimation box for new additions for up to two days max. After that, like others mentioned I feed like crazy so everyone’s happy and full before letting them loose. From there they work it out, unless it’s gets excessive and things look like there just not going to work out. Then I’ll try a mirror or adding some pvc fittings and pipe especially around a specific area that is being protected. If that fails, I have to separate them and figure out plan b. I never said you have to use an acclimation box for x amount of days, or separate for x amount of days, or be overly cautious. I am exactly like you with dogs, and I try to do the same for my fish. My peeve is just throwing a fish in and whatever happens, happens. My statements to I can’t think we’re as they just add fish and don’t have problems. Blaxsun feeds heavy, which is taking a step to minimize aggression.

 

[pepper89]

I get the pecking order of things, it’s natural and isn’t prevented by acclimating. Similar to you with dogs, I use an acclimation box for new additions for up to two days max. After that, like others mentioned I feed like crazy so everyone’s happy and full before letting them loose. From there they work it out, unless it’s gets excessive and things look like there just not going to work out. Then I’ll try a mirror or adding some pvc fittings and pipe especially around a specific are that is being protected. If that fails, I have to separate them and figure out plan b. I never said you have to use an acclimation box for x amount of days, or separate for x amount of days, or be overly cautious. I am exactly like you with dogs, and I try to the same for my fish. My peeve is just throwing a fish in and whatever happens, happens. My statements to I can’t think we’re as they just add fish and don’t have problems. Blaxsun feeds heavy, which is taking a step to minimize aggression.

Yes, and see I plan to be more like you because as you said, I don't like the idea of just throwing a bunch of things together and praying. Mostly because I get too attached too quickly (even to my snails so it is worse with fish), and I would definitely cry if I lost anything to something I could prevent. So I personally plan on doing a lot more than just throwing them in there and "letting them figure it out".

Though, I think for the most part, most people don't see too many issues, it is probably 1-5% of the time (with good fish husbandry and tank being well-fed) that you will get some butthole fish outliers. I think I see like 1 or 2 every week or so like this where the fish should be fine but isn't, but nothing super drastic for how many fish I know are getting put in tanks. Plus, sometimes even with acclimation and the best setup, those butthole fish are just buttholes, and would just be buttholes no matter what you do. So I can see why some people would be ok with a more hands-off "what happens happens" or natural selection sort of approach.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Not sure if anybody recommended it but I put a mirror next to the tank, it usually fixes issues.

 

[blaxsun]

Not sure if anybody recommended it but I put a mirror next to the tank, it usually fixes issues.

This works for some of my fish (a few of the wrasses for whatever reason). I also placed a net in one corner for a few days and that helped "calm things" as well.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Glad to see everyone is still alive today and in their own spot in the tank!