New fish, how do I control the hazing???

[Mortie31]

I simply put 2 small fish nets in the display, fish seem to have an inbuilt fear of them, everything hides and when they do start to come out fighting seems to be the last thing on their minds... worked really well with tang aggression

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Do you have a plan if things go south when you remove the plexiglass? Maybe have the HT and PT on one side, and the CT on the other. Having a mirror as well as a picture of a CT will help reduce possible aggression but you should have a Plan B, especially when dealing with these expensive fish.

Good idea. I am hoping I do not have to divide the tank back up, unless the CT is too aggressive. Ideally if I can swing it I would like to put the CT in the smaller area and the other ones in the larger area to interact and get comfortable. Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that.

You feed him whole seafood on the clip? They still have those predator instincts and dietary needs, though they are hardy fish.

Hopefully he stays peaceful because nobody likes having one of their fish eat another. Just try to keep him well fed because that's his natural instinct, to eat live fish and shrimp. I used to always feed glass/ghost shrimp, but they've become harder to find lately. I even had these predators eating flake food once in a while. Triggers will really eat anything. At least the clown isn't as aggressive as a Queen or Undulated Trigger. Those things are beasts and I always wanted a Queen. Just too nasty.

I love triggers. They have some of the best personalities, along with a dogface puffer.

Good luck. Is the tusk Australian or Indian Ocean btw? A few of us have had instances of the tusks going completely 100% blind and having to be put down. Nobody knows why, but I attribute it to collection methods. I hope yours works out. Great fish to have, one of my favorites.

What I do is pickup a bag of seafood blend from Trader Joe's. It has no tripolyphosphates, colors, or added artificial agents. It contains shrimp, calamari, and scallops. I thaw it in some warm tap water and compress it between the two teeth of the veggie clip. Then I lower it in the tank and he goes bananas. He loves nori as well, but I don't see it having any nutritional value for him, so I try to limit how much he gets. After he is fed, I feed the rest of the tank. They get the same food as the CT but a smaller portion, and I add nori for the purple tang. You are right about CT willing to eat anything.

Triggers are definitely amazing fish. Knock on wood, I have been able to keep mine in a reef tank with minimal coral casualties. Some triggers are just mean, but I think if acquired small enough they can be great community tank members if fed enough and frequently. Some of the older/bigger ones straight from the wild are set in their feeding ways and do not hesitate to commit mass genocide of a tank.

The Tusk is from Australia, and is one of the most beautiful fish I have ever seen. I always try to buy fish from private sellers who have kept them for a year +. The tusk has been in captivity for 2.5 years according to the previous seller. I was not aware that there was such a detrimental vision issue with these guys. Could you describe what happened to yours? Did it gradually go blind or was it more sudden?


Hey guys question for all of you tusk owners. So he is eating, but he is not aggressive about acquiring food. I chop up selcon soaked shrimp and add to a tank. He probably eats 1/4 of a medium sized shrimp a day. If it lands on rock or sand then he just ignores it. I don't feel that is enough for a fish his size. What do you guys think?

 

[SDReefer]

"Hey guys question for all of you tusk owners. So he is eating, but he is not aggressive about acquiring food. I chop up selcon soaked shrimp and add to a tank. He probably eats 1/4 of a medium sized shrimp a day. If it lands on rock or sand then he just ignores it. I don't feel that is enough for a fish his size. What do you guys think?

I haven't kept a tusk before but I wouldn't introduce him unless he is aggressively eating. If you take out the divider, I'd imagine that the CT will get to the food before him and he wouldn't get any food.

 

[Forsaken77]

Good idea. I am hoping I do not have to divide the tank back up, unless the CT is too aggressive. Ideally if I can swing it I would like to put the CT in the smaller area and the other ones in the larger area to interact and get comfortable. Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that.



What I do is pickup a bag of seafood blend from Trader Joe's. It has no tripolyphosphates, colors, or added artificial agents. It contains shrimp, calamari, and scallops. I thaw it in some warm tap water and compress it between the two teeth of the veggie clip. Then I lower it in the tank and he goes bananas. He loves nori as well, but I don't see it having any nutritional value for him, so I try to limit how much he gets. After he is fed, I feed the rest of the tank. They get the same food as the CT but a smaller portion, and I add nori for the purple tang. You are right about CT willing to eat anything.

Triggers are definitely amazing fish. Knock on wood, I have been able to keep mine in a reef tank with minimal coral casualties. Some triggers are just mean, but I think if acquired small enough they can be great community tank members if fed enough and frequently. Some of the older/bigger ones straight from the wild are set in their feeding ways and do not hesitate to commit mass genocide of a tank.

The Tusk is from Australia, and is one of the most beautiful fish I have ever seen. I always try to buy fish from private sellers who have kept them for a year +. The tusk has been in captivity for 2.5 years according to the previous seller. I was not aware that there was such a detrimental vision issue with these guys. Could you describe what happened to yours? Did it gradually go blind or was it more sudden?


Hey guys question for all of you tusk owners. So he is eating, but he is not aggressive about acquiring food. I chop up selcon soaked shrimp and add to a tank. He probably eats 1/4 of a medium sized shrimp a day. If it lands on rock or sand then he just ignores it. I don't feel that is enough for a fish his size. What do you guys think?

The blindness happened very slowly over 1.5 years. I first noticed him not getting the food. He could see movement but couldn't pinpoint it. He was snapping at empty water and the other fish would eat all the food. I had him from juvenile until right after his juvenile eye spots disappeared.

Eventually I had to take him out and put him in a QT tank because he couldn't eat and was bumping into things. I had an old Eclipse tank, with the biowheel, and had to feed him Krill because it was big enough, and bright enough, for him to see a little. He knew that the krill would float by the biowheel return and would sink and float back up. It took him almost 10 mins to catch one piece.

Eventually he couldn't even catch that. He wouldn't accept hand feeding with either my fingers or from tweezer tongs. Instead of letting him starve, I had to euthanize him, which was one of the hardest things because he was my first fish since getting back into the hobby, and my favorite. He was an Indian variety though.

Another member here had 2 tusks go blind and he said they were Australians. But a lot of fish sellers call it Australian if it has great coloring, so it's hard to actually know what you're getting.

 

[Forsaken77]

Good idea. I am hoping I do not have to divide the tank back up, unless the CT is too aggressive. Ideally if I can swing it I would like to put the CT in the smaller area and the other ones in the larger area to interact and get comfortable. Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that.



What I do is pickup a bag of seafood blend from Trader Joe's. It has no tripolyphosphates, colors, or added artificial agents. It contains shrimp, calamari, and scallops. I thaw it in some warm tap water and compress it between the two teeth of the veggie clip. Then I lower it in the tank and he goes bananas. He loves nori as well, but I don't see it having any nutritional value for him, so I try to limit how much he gets. After he is fed, I feed the rest of the tank. They get the same food as the CT but a smaller portion, and I add nori for the purple tang. You are right about CT willing to eat anything.

Triggers are definitely amazing fish. Knock on wood, I have been able to keep mine in a reef tank with minimal coral casualties. Some triggers are just mean, but I think if acquired small enough they can be great community tank members if fed enough and frequently. Some of the older/bigger ones straight from the wild are set in their feeding ways and do not hesitate to commit mass genocide of a tank.

The Tusk is from Australia, and is one of the most beautiful fish I have ever seen. I always try to buy fish from private sellers who have kept them for a year +. The tusk has been in captivity for 2.5 years according to the previous seller. I was not aware that there was such a detrimental vision issue with these guys. Could you describe what happened to yours? Did it gradually go blind or was it more sudden?


Hey guys question for all of you tusk owners. So he is eating, but he is not aggressive about acquiring food. I chop up selcon soaked shrimp and add to a tank. He probably eats 1/4 of a medium sized shrimp a day. If it lands on rock or sand then he just ignores it. I don't feel that is enough for a fish his size. What do you guys think?

What was the previous owner feeding him? He may just need to adjust his eating habits.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

The blindness happened very slowly over 1.5 years. I first noticed him not getting the food. He could see movement but couldn't pinpoint it. He was snapping at empty water and the other fish would eat all the food. I had him from juvenile until right after his juvenile eye spots disappeared.

Eventually I had to take him out and put him in a QT tank because he couldn't eat and was bumping into things. I had an old Eclipse tank, with the biowheel, and had to feed him Krill because it was big enough, and bright enough, for him to see a little. He knew that the krill would float by the biowheel return and would sink and float back up. It took him almost 10 mins to catch one piece.

Eventually he couldn't even catch that. He wouldn't accept hand feeding with either my fingers or from tweezer tongs. Instead of letting him starve, I had to euthanize him, which was one of the hardest things because he was my first fish since getting back into the hobby, and my favorite. He was an Indian variety though.

Another member here had 2 tusks go blind and he said they were Australians. But a lot of fish sellers call it Australian if it has great coloring, so it's hard to actually know what you're getting.

Very sorry to read this. Definitely unfortunate when a fish does, especially due to something like this. Since you initially told me about the blindness I have been watching his actions very closely. I am not seeing anything of concern, but will continue to monitor him.

What was the previous owner feeding him? He may just need to adjust his eating habits.

He was being fed shrimp with Kent zoe added to it. I have been feeding him shrimp for the last couple of days. Today I started him on scallops with selcon.


Update: Day three has been good so far. HT is eating a bit more, but still has no interest in going after food on sand or rock. CT showing less aggression. He still spends time by the plexiglass but is starting to seem less interested about where the HT is. The molly somehow is crossing the plexiglass and goes from one side to another. Haha no idea how this guys is fitting between the small space.

 

[Mal Cameron]

I have a Harlequin Tusk of about 15cm in size. He ignores all other tank mates but there is no way i would let a Clown Trigger anywhere near it. Either one will turn into a killer no matter how long you may keep them segregated. Dont do it.

 

[StingrayNYC]

I have a Harlequin Tusk of about 15cm in size. He ignores all other tank mates but there is no way i would let a Clown Trigger anywhere near it. Either one will turn into a killer no matter how long you may keep them segregated. Dont do it.

Yup.
Based on size clown trigger will go rogue. So watch out.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I have a Harlequin Tusk of about 15cm in size. He ignores all other tank mates but there is no way i would let a Clown Trigger anywhere near it. Either one will turn into a killer no matter how long you may keep them segregated. Dont do it.

Yup.
Based on size clown trigger will go rogue. So watch out.

Yes I have read situations when a trigger goes super aggressive and starts killing everything. So far this CT has been relatively mild tempered based on his species. I would say my female clown fish is definitely more aggressive than he is, but she is also no where near as powerful. Hopefully once he get comfortable with the HT he will treat it like the rest of his tank mates.

 

[TripleDogDareYah]

I just print out color pics of the fish that are being the aggressors. I make the prints bigger than the aggressor and then just tape them to the glass. Move them around every now and then. The aggressors will start acting like betas instead of tank alphas and leave the incoming newcomer mostly alone as they have bigger problems on their hands.

 

[TripleDogDareYah]

Beautiful fish btw. I've always wanted one

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I just print out color pics of the fish that are being the aggressors. I make the prints bigger than the aggressor and then just tape them to the glass. Move them around every now and then. The aggressors will start acting like betas instead of tank alphas and leave the incoming newcomer mostly alone as they have bigger problems on their hands.

This a good idea and will definitely tape to glass when I remove the divider.

Beautiful fish btw. I've always wanted one

I couldn't be happier with the coloration. Definitely becoming one of my favorite fish of all time. I just fish we was as aggressive at the CT when it came to eating. He is definitely consuming a decent amount now, but if other fish are competing with him I don't know what he will get. The divider will definitely stay up until he starts inhaling his food.

 

[Monkeytank]

A lot of people have given good recommendations, but you might need a professional to stop serious hazing. This guy doesn't tolerate buffoonery in aquariums.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Day four update: Today he is definitely eating and has learned the magnetic clip holds the food. Now as soon as it goes in he goes straight for it. He still isn't eating off the sandbed or the rock, but is definitely more aggressive about getting the food from the magnet. CT seems irritated that 1/3 of the tank is inaccessible to him. He continues to seem less interested in the HT, but that might be due to the fact he knows he can't get to him.

Overall I am very happy I put the plexiglass divider in. If I had not than I don't think the HT would have eaten these last few days.

This weekend I will post pictures of the fish community so you guys can put a "face to the voice".

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Day five update: Yesterday I realized that HT was not really eating the scallop. He was inhaling the entire thing but then would shortly spit it out. Today we went back to shrimp that I dry out and then rehydrate with selcon. He is definitely eating that, but still wouldn't be considered a very aggressive eater. So one reason I did not make perforations in the plexiglass was so both sides of the tank can see each other. HT definitely is less skittish when the CT is right next to him beyond the plexiglass, but now I can see that CT does bite the plexiglass when HT is close by.

Forsaken77 did mention HTs going blind, so have been researching that. It seems these guys overall seem hardy, but the initial acclimation tends to be very hard on them. It seems these guys easily can go on a hunger strike for a few weeks once introduced. Also seems there have been different kinds of stress that trigger a quick deterioration in their health. Apparently blindness has been reported in these guys even years after living safely in a tank, and some are saying diet is a big part of it.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Two week and one day update: So far the aggression from CT towards the plexiglass has almost completely disappeared. Sometimes HT and CT are side by side and no visible aggression is present. Feeling pretty good about the progress so far, but the only thing that matters is how they act once the glass is gone. HT apparently loves squid and has become a pretty decent eater, but he only eats off the magnetic clip. Tried hand feeding him, but he was not interested, only wants food off the magnet. This is a little concerning because once the plexiglass is gone CT will not give him unlimited time to eat. This is the only thing preventing me from pulling out the plexiglass. Any suggestions about this?

A little late, but here are the pics. You can see CT with his little buddy. HT does not like posing for the camera.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Three weeks and four days update: On Tuesday I found 2.5 lbs of cleaned, raw and unpreserved squid for $8 at Restaurant Depot. The entire tank is loving squid. the HT's appetite has grown quite significantly. He still only eats off the magnetic clip and is not taking to being hand fed. CT shows a little aggression towards the divider, but nothing like day one. This Saturday I will be REMOVING the divider!!! Today and tomorrow I am going to be overfeeding the tank to make sure CT is as happy as possible and HT has a nice reserve in case he does not eat the first few days. HT eats well, but if he does not get more aggressive about getting the food then CT may out compete him everyday.

There is something I have learned from this experiment. The divider is separating the tank into a 4' and 2' sections. My CT does not do well in a 4' tank. He was definitely a lot happier in a 6', and was less aggressive. The divider is pinned next to a rock, so the circular swimming room I had is gone. This definitely has made a significant difference with where the fish are swimming and how often they are running into each other.

I don't think I can do anymore in terms of acclimating the HT to the other fishes. Will post an update once all the fish can mingle together.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Hope someone is still finding this useful. Yesterday was D-Day, one day shy of hitting the 4 week mark . I started by severely overfeeding the tank. I was trying to get CT to the point of not eating anymore food off the magnetic clip. I was shocked how much he was able to eat. I don't feed frozen cubes, but if I had to give an equivalence, he ate around 5-6 cubes yesterday. Now that 5-6 is only him, does not take into account what I fed everyone else. Once full he became very lethargic, which was the goal. I removed the barrier and watched with severe anxiety. CT watched from his sleeping area for a little while, then aggressively swam towards the HT... HT hid and was fine, this occurred a couple more times. I never saw CT ever bite HT. CT seemed more curious about the activity on the other side of the tank and how much bigger his habitat was. HT swam the entire tank without the CT even giving him a second look. HT even ate additional food that was on CT's magnetic clip with CT showing no aggression. I couldn't be happier with this end result. This was the same CT that relentlessly attacked a new fish until I removed it.

This was only day one and CT was stuffed to capacity. Today hopefully this will continue and I will update with pictures . So far the 'acclimation tank' experiment seems to be a success. I will continue to feed heavily for the next few days while everyone adjusts, hopefully filtration will be able to keep up.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

Almost 2 years, so might as well throw an update. HT and CT have been living well together. Don't see any significant aggression. CT has killed other inhabitants that I have added in the same way within the last 2 years. This definitely works but a few things need to be taken into account. CT is probably 8-10" length and a good 3-5" wide. At this stage adding another fish would mean death, even if it is not right away. CT is very powerful and even his bites due to curiosity can easily kill fish of equivalent size. What I am doing is upgrading tanks. Looking to get a much larger tank to move my current live stock into then refilling the old tank with all new fish.