TANG WAR! God I Love This

[AKL1950]

So I bought my first four fish for my new tank. Put them in quarantine yesterday. A 3” Orange Shoulder Tang, a 2 1/2“ Tomini Tang and two little Percula Clowns. Figured since the tangs were pretty close in size (and both juveniles) they should get along okay. It’s a 29 gallon QT. Oh no! Within about two hours, the Orange Shoulder decided the tank is his and everyone else needs to get in line. He runs all over the tank bullying the others, so the Tomimi and two Clowns were staying in the protection of the PVC fittings I put in. There was no outright fighting, but if the Tomimi came out to swim around the Orange Shoulder would run him back to the PVC. Everyone was eating good so I decided to let it play out for a few days to see if they settled down. This morning the Orange Shoulder was still being a prick and I was thinking maybe put him in a time out observation box so the Tomimi and clowns could swim around. Haha! Only had to wait a few more hours. The Tomimi finally got ticked about it and just kicked the Orange Shoulders butt. Now, when the Tomimi swings around, the Orange Shoulder runs and hides under the Foam air filter. The clowns sense the change and they are swimming everywhere now. Even swimming up right over the Orange Shoulder. Houston, we have a new pecking order! I knew i would love getting back in the hobby. This is awesome entertainment.

Jetson

 

[vetteguy53081]

Orange shoulder will be the aggressor but quickly subside ( 24-48 hrs or a few feedings)
what can you do -

Dim the lights for a few hours
OR
place a mirror againgst tank and orange shoulder will pre-occupy itself with the other orange shoulder (the one in the mirror) and keep is mind off Tomini

 

[Andresnyc93]

Place a mirror in the side where the orange shoulder tang hangs out the most, will keep them busy and worry about their reflection instead of the other competitors in the tank. Should get them through quarantine until they’re fully treated and transferred to DT

 

[AKL1950]

I’m thinking the tables have turned. Now the Tomimi keeps herding the OrangeShoulder under the foam filter. Maybe I should put a mirror on both sides of the tank to keep them both entertained.

 

[Andresnyc93]

I’m thinking the tables have turned. Now the Tomimi keeps herding the OrangeShoulder under the foam filter. Maybe I should put a mirror on both sides of the tank to keep them both entertained.

Mirrors help a lot. I had a yellow tang bully the crap out of my flame angelfish and copperband and they forgot all about them after 3-4 days with the mirror trick

 

[stevolough]

Mirrors help a lot. I had a yellow tang bully the crap out of my flame angelfish and copperband and they forgot all about them after 3-4 days with the mirror trick

Most likely someone will die soon. Doesn’t really make sense to put 4 fish in quarantine at the same time. Just adds to the stress

 

[AKL1950]

Probably. Patience has never been one of my virtues. DT is on back order and I’ve already got four fish in quarantine. What is that old saying. We learn best from our mistakes.

Jetson

 

[Arego]

Yeah don't do that one again the idea is less stress.

 

[stevolough]

Probably. Patience has never been one of my virtues. DT is on back order and I’ve already got four fish in quarantine. What is that old saying. We learn best from our mistakes.

Jetson

Lack of patients really doesn’t work out in this endeavor

 

[tautog83]

You should just watch YouTube videos then

 

[JumboShrimp]

Piece of egg crate from a Big Box store as a QT divider?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Otherwise quickly grab another 20g tank and separate them.

 

[Tcook]

Yes. Another tank or a divider.

 

[AKL1950]

Thanks for all the ideas. I love the egg crate idea. That sounds perfect. Actually think the clowns are small enough to move back and forth between the two sides If they want to. Partition will be in tomorrow.

 

[JumboShrimp]

You’ll find them in the lighting department. They are used to defuse lighting.

 

[AKL1950]

Lol! Already have a stash of them in the garage. I’m also a Bonsai nut and I use them for my Bonsai trees. The trick will be getting the two tangs to move to opposite sides of the tank. I love it. Another challenge.

 

[vetteguy53081]

get a 10 gallon-20g preferable starter kit at walmart which comes with the needed essentials for a QT

 

[ZoWhat]

You should invite Michael Vick over to watch the two Tangs be forced by you into territorial aggression

 

[AKL1950]

Good morning everyone. Thought I would start over here, and try to clear the air a little on this thread. I’m sure it’s the way I describe things that has led a few to maybe think I am shooting from the hip and not approaching my reef husbandry with a proper adult attitude, but I promise you, the exact opposite is the case. I firmly believe that when humans start trying to tinker too much with nature, they will usually screw it up. My philosophy is more watch and observe and only get involved when nature is having problems making things work without a little help. If I have said things in a way that appears flippant about this, I truly apologize.

To start with, I don’t think four fish in the QT are too many, because there is only approximately 5” of fish in a 29 gallon tank. I actually picked four to, in a way, force me to pay closer attention to all aspects of aquarium maintenance and keep the tank healthy. Having owned a fish aquarium business, I’ve seen and had 30 1” guppies share a 20 gallon tank. It works as long as you keep the tank and water clean. That’s what I’m focusing on by doing this. Relearning how to manage a system Properly.

As far as watching two tangs establish the tank pecking order, that’s what I expected to see and they did it beautifully. The Orange Shoulder vied for dominance, the Tomimi put him in his place and now the tank hierarchy is in place and the tank is happy. They swim around together, share the same hiding place at night, eat side by side and appear to be the best of buddies. Nature worked like it should and I all I had to do was just sit back and have a great time watching it evolve. Even the little clowns get in that same hiding place with them. Quite amazing to watch. I love all of the suggestions everyone had to help mitigate tank aggression and I now have them all ready if I need them. If the aggression had escalated, I would have been ready to take action.

As far as settling up my QT and putting in fish, even before I got my DT, that was the plan All along. You might say this was my practice “starter“ tank to get myself back in the flow of managing an aquarium system before i got the big tank with all the more complicated equipment. It is allowing me the ability to see and manage a small system so I will be ready to take on the big one and make fewer mistakes when that time comes. The size, scale and number of fish in this small system is perfect for getting me geared up for the big one when it gets here.

I know I do tend to rattle on about every little thing I see and if I appeared to be stirring the pot with the two tangs or not caring about their well being, I apologize. In the future I will try to more thoroughly explain why and how I am doing things the way I do. Will I make mistakes, absolutely. That’s part of the game and why I’m on this forum. To learn from others to help me minimize those mistakes. I am just always amazed at how nature works and sometimes don’t express it correctly. I will try to do better. The safety and health of the critters I choose to keep will always be the top priority.

Jetson

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Most likely someone will die soon. Doesn’t really make sense to put 4 fish in quarantine at the same time. Just adds to the stress

This is kind of a silly statement at face value.

29g is PLENTY large enough for These for fish...

Hearding behavior doesn't kill fish.


The pearl clutching so far has me actually laughing.