Major Aggression After Last Addition

[TCReef84]

Hello,

I am running a 75 gallon reef tank and have recently added a juvenile Kole Tang to my current stock list which includes two ocellaris clownfish, one banggai cardinal, one fairy wrasse, and a sand hopper blenny.

After acclimating the Kole it took quite well to it’s new environment. The sand hopper showed a little aggression at first but it is a grumpy fish in general, and he relaxed after an hour or two.

Everything was fine until lights went out. I noticed a commotion and upon investigation I discovered the poor tang suffering what I considered a relentless full on prison yard assault from both clownfish. Had to break the tank down just to remove the two clownfish and they are currently sitting in the sump. The tang is doing fine other than the battle scars.

My plan is to reintroduce the clownfish after the tang has healed and hopefully stakes out his own territory. I’ve also rearranged the aquascape completely. If it doesn’t go well my girlfriend and I will have to decide which one will go to a new home.

How do you deal with aggression? I’m open to any suggestions.

 

[Tahoe61]

Sounds like you have a good plan, in letting the Tang have some peaceful acclimation time, are changing up the scape are great interventions.

It's possible after the time out and territory change the clowns will be less aggressive once re-introduced. Established clowns can be extremely territorial and aggressive.

 

[Daniel Waters]

I think removal of the clowns is the right thing to do. Allow the kole tang to get established, eating, and recovered. You can then re-introduce the clowns. I suspect everything will work out at that time. I'm just not sure how long you'd need to keep the clowns removed from the display tank...maybe a week? I've had some zebrasoma tangs I've removed and reintroduced after a few days of timeout and it wasn't near enough time (but I think zebrasoma may be a bit less forgiving than ocellaris clownfish).

 

[cmcoker]

My clowns got their own biocube 16. Mean little snots had my wrasse bouncing into the net several times a day, after a time out in an acclimation box for several days. They went back in box while I decided what to do, lfs had a biocube in the used section and I had rock and sand.
Do you plan on adding more fish after the tang? Likely to be an issue each time..

 

[Jesterrace]

Clowns can be little dbags. My snowflake occ tried to pick fights with everyone right from the get go. Fortunately my Diamond Watchman Goby and my Melanurus Wrasse didn't take much guff from him and the wrasse beat the living crappola out of the guy for a day or so until the little brat got the message. It is a bit surprising that the Clowns are getting the best of the Kole though as Koles can be aggressive.