New fish aggression

[Mrcote1]

I just added a small 1" purple tang to my 75 gallon reef. I have a 1.5" gladiator clown and a 1.5" potters dwarf angel that was already in the tank. The clown and angel are being absolutely vicious to the tang and biting at his fins and chasing it nonstop. I have plenty of caves and hiding places but it is not helping. I just turned the lights off and they left the tang alone. Is this something that will continue to happen until the tang is dead or just for a day until they establish territory?

 

[Ocelaris]

Acclimation boxes can be made from almost anything and would help.

 

[cojo8888]

Move rocks. New territory establishes

 

[JumboShrimp]

I just put a Rusty Angel into a 6’ long tank. The 3-stripe Damsel beat him up unmercifully on the one end of the tank (where his favorite rocks are), but what really surprised me was when the Yellow Eyed Kole Tang also started chasing the Angel everywhere without let-up. This went on for about 4 hours— but seems to have eased up. The Angel is keeping to one corner, licking his wounds (fins); and I’m hoping things will continue to gradually improve.

 

[Mrcote1]

Moving rock is not an option. I have sps all over and rocks that are cemented together. And it's been roughly 5 hours the tang has been in there and the aggression is getting worse. The clown is actually seeking out the tang in parts of the tank the clown normally doesn't go to just to attack the tang.
I like the acclimation box idea. Just called my lfs though and they dont have one and petco and petsmart dont show any on their website

 

[46gReef]

Maybe try adding a few rocks/ make a new structure while the lights are off(I’d leave ‘em off for at least a full day) switch it up a little. Give ‘em something else to focus on

 

[Maritimer]

Petsmart or similar should have "Kritter Keepers" - they're lightweight clear plastic boxes with colored lids, which make perfectly serviceable acclimation boxes. Just need to find a way to keep them in one place in the tank.

~Bruce

 

[Fishnut]

Try placing a mirror on one side of the tank. It may distract the aggressors for a while. Hopefully the Tang can survive until things settle down

 

[Mrcote1]

I cant believe how lucky I just got with a net. I was able to catch the tang right away and found a plastic container I drilled holes in for a make shift acclimation box. The tang is tore up real bad but he should make it. Will this acclimation box be big enough? And how long should I keep the tang in it for?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Congratulations! I was bummed out, because I’m sure that Purple Tang didn’t come cheap.

I’m not sure there is any magic period of time to acclimate in the box, but he would be good for several days, I’m sure. It will be a holiday in there, compared to the beating he was taking, no!? Oddly enough, if you do happen to catch the Clown, maybe let the Tang into the tank for a few days and let the bully-Clown get to know him from ‘inside’ the box— meaning swap them. I’m thinking some time-out for the Clown (away from defending his territory) might be a good disruption to his routine. Just a thought. Keep us posted.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

I know clowns can be vicious and I agree if possible putting the clown in time out. I have a 1 1/2” snowflake clown that tries to bite my hand anytime I’m in the tank.

 

[Mrcote1]

The clown and angel were both ruthless. And catching them (especially the angel) will certainly be a challenge. If it comes too it I could try and use 2 seperate boxes as the clown and angel are not fond of eachother either. Are there any signs to watch for that will indicate that the fish will not kill each other if I release the tang? I have no experience with fish acting so aggressively before or using an acclimation box

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Do you have a QT tank you could setup? If so if you could get the clown and Angel in there to reset territory and release the tang. I know your fish aren’t that big but your clown and Angel have big fish attitudes and you may find the 75G is a little tight for them unless you can change it up and reset their territory.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I’m afraid it’s often hit-or-miss when it comes to acclimation/aggression, but the generally idea is to try to maximize a successful strategy. Could you take a photo of your 75 gallon from further away?... if you can’t catch the Clown in a net, your tank might be favorable for the “low tide” method of fish removal. I’m thinking your Angel (what type, by the way?, and is it significantly larger than the Tang?) will probably start playing nice sooner than the Clown, especially if the Clown and his territory is taken out of the mix. Basically, with a Clown’s swim pattern, and small swimming ‘footprint’, you could keep that Clown in that acclimation box you made for WEEKS, if you had to. That should take some wind out of his sails! (As you can see, I am clearly rooting for the Purple Tang.)

 

[Mrcote1]

The tang just came out of the QT so it was drained and must be sterilised since the tang had velvet as well as bacterial infections. Maybe I could put the angel and clown in 5 gallon buckets for 2 days then return them to the DT? But then I will have to catch them still

 

[Mrcote1]

I’m afraid it’s often hit-or-miss when it comes to acclimation/aggression, but the generally idea is to try to maximize a successful strategy. Could you take a photo of your 75 gallon from further away?... if you can’t catch the Clown in a net, your tank might be favorable for the “low tide” method of fish removal. I’m thinking your Angel (what type, by the way?, and is it significantly larger than the Tang?) will probably start playing nice sooner than the Clown, especially if the Clown and his territory is taken out of the mix. Basically, with a Clown’s swim pattern, and small swimming ‘footprint’, you could keep that Clown in that acclimation box you made for WEEKS, if you had to. That should take some wind out of his sails! (As you can see, I am clearly rooting for the Purple Tang.)

The angel is a potters angelfish and it is a very nice looking one. I would say it is as nice looking of a fish as the tang. The clown is certainly my least favorite and would be easiest to catch as it sleeps in a corner of the tank. I'll try and remove the clown the day after tomorrow

 

[JumboShrimp]

Oh, that tank is perfect if you ever need to go the “low tide” route to catch fish!

 

[JumboShrimp]

This is an explanation from another thread:

My go-to method for catching either difficult fish, or many/all the fish: Create as much of a ‘low tide’ as you can by using as many pails / containers / buckets as you can to siphon your water out. As for the rockwork, it might start to work to your advantage. Many passageways will become dead-ends; others can start to be block by nets, sheets of plastic or pieces of glass—anything you can use as dividers to cut off escape routes for your fish. I have used gallon jugs (weighted with water) to cut off escape routes for the fish. You would be surprised that what seems like a virtual impossibility (netting fish with rocks in the tank) when the water is high, can become vastly easier with only 3, 6, even 8 inches of water left.

 

[Mrcote1]

I have done that before on an old setup.... certainly not something I like doing haha. If it comes to it I will to save the tang. Between the purchase price and almost $40 in meds I spent as well as 8 weeks of headaches in QT it would be worth it. But hopefully the clown can be removed easily. Would removing the clown completely or putting the clown in the acclimation box be more effective? I do not want to add or change rock work within the tank


Also the angel and tang are roughly the same size (the angel is beefier though since I feed quite a bit since my nitrates are at complete 0)

 

[JumboShrimp]

Already (within 24 hours) my 3-stripe Damsel and Kole Tang have begun swimming by the new Rusty Angel without attacking— Meaning already what looked like it was going to be a murder seems to have past. I suspect it will be like that for your Angel and Tang. So if it were me, I’d put the Clown in the acclimation box for 2-3 weeks. If the other two are at peace, I’d release the Clown. (Kind of like ‘Release the lions?’ Lol.) If the Clown pulls the same stunt again, he’d be gone for good.