monster, my harlequin tusk

[cpayne015]

I have had him for over a year now in my 120 and he has always been extremely active and highlight, but in the last week my yellow and purple tang have started beating up on him and now he has been hiding in his sleeping cave at all times. When it is eating time I still get him to eat, but what are my options to get this resolved. I had my purple and yellow befor him but they have chased him at time but never been a big issue until the last week. He is around 6 inches or so and yellow is 5-6 while purple is 4-5.

 

[mike007]

I had the same problem with mine when I Introduced him Into tank. My tangs let him be but my maroon clown chased him all around. I was worried because I spent a lot of money on him and after about a month and a half now every one Is getting alone just fine. I really don't know what you can do but let nature take Its course and hopefully it will work out.

 

[cpayne015]

yeh I don't get it because for a year or more they have all been fine and now something changd.

 

[Small triggers]

Can you change around your rock...maybe just changing the arrangement and their "territories" will make them reassess ...

 

[cpayne015]

yeh I may try that....I thought about moving my yellow tang to my 65 reef and letting him stay in there for a few weeks

 

[rideit6578]

You can try moving around the rock but that can be hard in an established tank. I know its a pain but if you could net the tangs and toss them in the sump for a few that can sometimes help diminish the aggression and let the tusk establish some dominance while they're gone.

 

[Tahoe61]

You can also try taping a small mirror to the tank for distraction and see if that brakes up the aggression cycle.

 

[Ben jammin]

For such a fierce looking fish these guys are real wussies. I got a tusk recently (Raymond - get it?) and he's almost 7" - way bigger than any of my other fish. But he gets beaten to all the food at meal time by every other fish in the tank - even my doofus cowfish. Poor guy practically gets food taken out of his mouth by my french angel and dragon wrasse. One of these days, those guys are going to get impaled accidentally by his big blue fangs, maybe then they'll learn.

 

[cpayne015]

yeh I took the yellow tang out....now my tusk got popeye from getting popped I am guessing.