My Achilles Killed My Tusk.

[Marco S]

I have had my Harlequin Tusk for about 5 months and it was my favorite fish. I spent several months putting him through QT and timing the placement of him in my DT. I have really grown close to that fish and he had so much personality and was a goofball. He was not aggressive at all except when feeding and then he turned into a monster. I would have to feed bigger pieces until he was full and then the others could eat. He would even take food out of the Tangs and my Foxfaces mouths if he wanted it. Besides feeding though, he would just swim back and forth all day every day and no other fish seemed to have any aggression towards him.

About two weeks ago he started interacting with my Blue Hippo, Purple and Achilles Tangs a lot more. They would swim with him and he would mimic them for some reason. He even tried tail slapping them like they do to each other every once in a while. I thought this was all in good fun and didn't think anything of it. A couple days ago the Achilles started to get very aggressive with him and would actively chase him all over the tank and was nipping at him and swiping him with his tail, (not just slapping, but full on swimming hard into him and slashing). I figured this would play out for a while and then go back to normal, but this morning I woke up to a dead Tusk.

This really sucks! I probably wont be replacing him, but I am really going to miss him.

 

[Zos4me]

Sorry that sucks. One of the reasons I havnt put any fish in my new tank. i m not really sure what i want and im afraid of a scenario like that. Sorry for your loss

 

[vetteguy53081]

Aggression plays a big key in saltwater aquaria.
You just NEVER know nor can tell at any given moment !!

 

[Kyuss414]

Sorry to hear that. I can kinda relate. Always wanted an Aussie Tusk back when I kept more predatory FOWLR tanks but always heard Tusks were pretty timid so never wanted to house it with my triggers.

Years later, when I set up my current 150G I decided to go with a softie & LPS mixed reef and finally get my prized Tusk. Finally got a juvie, and he was a bit of a terror right from the start, feeding time or not. As he got bigger he got even worse, harassing the other fish more and more, and gnawing at the glass every time I got near the tank even, so much that he barely had any tusks from the constant gnawing.

His harassing of other fish got to the point that I finally made the decision to re-home him. Was really tempted to set up another tank for just him, but just didn't have the time back then, but now I kick myself for not doing it and keeping him. They're beautiful fish and still a favorite of mine.

 

[maroun.c]

Sorry to hear’ Sucks to lose fish but unfortunately it’s part of the hobby.

 

[nereefpat]

Bummer.

All those Achilles/powder blue/powder brown tangs can be really nasty.

I'm a little surprised that it would care about a tusk, though. Out of curiosity, how big is the tang, and what is the tank size?

 

[Marco S]

Bummer.

All those Achilles/powder blue/powder brown tangs can be really nasty.

I'm a little surprised that it would care about a tusk, though. Out of curiosity, how big is the tang, and what is the tank size?

My Achilles is about 4 1/2" - 5" and the Tusk was about 5 1/2". My tank is a RS Reefer 750 XXL so about 160 gallons. I know I will eventually need to move my Achilles and Blue Hippo. (and plan on getting a 300+ gallon in 2020 or 2021) but for now they should be fine.

Although I keep hearing that the Powder Blue is one of the nastier Tangs, I have never had an issue with him. He will return aggression in defense, but has never instigated aggression towards any other Tangs. My Purple and Achilles have been the problem fish off and on and if it continues I may have to get a bigger tank sooner than later.