New fish getting picked on hard

NoFoolin · Mar 16, 2020

I have a 180gal display tank at work with 11 fish in it. I just added a fairy wrasse today and my Yellow Coris Wrasse and Orange Back Wrasse are beating up the new guy something fierce. The new guy is smaller than the old ones. As soon as I identified the behavior, which was a couple of hours after I put it in there, I fed them and turned off the lights. Any advice on what else I can do tomorrow? The old fish are swimming half way across the tank at top speed to take a swipe at the fairy. The fairy is clearly stressed and has bite marks on it.

Phycodurus · Mar 16, 2020

that’s hard to watch. i recommend re-arranging the rock work or (my preferred method) drop several pieces of black pvc elbows, tubes and tees, and leave them there for about a week to disrupt everyone’s sense of territory. i would personally remove asap both the yellow coris wrasse and orange back wrasse.

invest in an acrylic acclimation box for future additions. it’s a further aid for new introductions.

good luck!

VJM 21 · Mar 16, 2020

Phycodurus said:
that’s hard to watch. i recommend re-arranging the rock work or (my preferred method) drop several pieces of black pvc elbows, tubes and tees, and leave them there for about a week to disrupt everyone’s sense of territory. i would personally remove asap both the yellow coris wrasse and orange back wrasse.

invest in an acrylic acclimation box for future additions. it’s a further aid for new introductions.

good luck!

All good information. Additionally, you can add a mirror to the side of the tank. It works really well with tangs...worth a shot if you can’t catch the bullies.

Gareth elliott · Mar 16, 2020

What type of fairy is the new fish?

Cirrhilabrus Complexes: Inferiority Need Not Apply (1st Revision)

Cirrhilabrus, the “Fairy Wrasses”, are one of the most elegant, active, and colorful reef fish. Their appeal in a reef tank is common to many, but not all have a well-rounded understanding of the compatibility amongst them. Enter the notion of...

www.reef2reef.com

This thread should help. You want to avoid adding fairies in the same boxes together. The coris is likely mimicking the orangeback’s aggression. Id let heal in a separate tank, if the bites are severe, a bath in methylene blue may help.
After its healed try the acclimation box, if after a week the 2 other wrasses are still showing aggression(a lot of interest) id return the new comer.

NoFoolin · Mar 16, 2020

Thanks! I'll try to get who I can and throw them in quarantine but it's tough to catch them in that 6'-0" long tank. I really like the PVC pipe suggestion as it is pretty simple to implement. Wish me luck.