What do you do with a tank bully?

[Nathan Aubin]

i have a similar problem right now . picked u a beautiful pair of maroon lightning clowns, the one larger one in store was dominant and well it was obvious seems now the rolls have been reversed . the larger one has been beaten into submission, however it isnt stopping . there is now signs of fin damage and the one wont even let the other eat. suggestions

 

[ca1ore]

As noted, there are a number of things you can do. I added a gem tang to my tank a while back (using an acclimation box and ‘idiot’ mirror) and the resident purple hated it. I bisected thecank with eggcrate, but it was clear the purple wasn’t going to let up. Caught it with a fish trap and banished to the frag tank. After 30 days, i reintroduced the purple. My yellow, which had ignored the gem, apparently had forgotten about the purple so gave it a bit of hazing. Purple and gem certainly aren’t ‘friends’ but they now coexist. If I didn’t like the purple so much, I might have permanently rehomed it.

 

[Nathan Aubin]

i have created a breeder box and the clown with the worse wounds is now having some spa time but still in the tank, lets see what the next few weeks say

 

[Chukthunder]

A couple things I do to reduce aggression when adding fish...

1.) Feed really heavy during first few days of adding a new fish.
2.) Use an acclimation box
3.) Add multiple fish at the same time thus spreading the aggression.
4.) Add fish at night when lights are out.
5.) Place a mirror on side of tank, so aggressive fish will attack their reflection instead of new fish.
6.) I will sometimes leave a net or two in the tank. My fish are scared of the dreaded net and will you usually hide when one is in the tank thus giving time for the new guy to settle in. After a half hour or so the old fish usually wise up to this trick and come back out despite the nets.
7.) If all else fails you can attempt to remove the aggressor and put him a time out by either placing him in the acclimation box or a separate tank for a week or two.

I really like the net idea, that struck me as near genius.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Wherever Mr Bully hides, move the scaping around. It will be more interested in a New territory. Ultimately- separation is the answer

 

[HB AL]

There's only 3 resolutions, the bully ends up killing the other fish, after a while they coexist but the bullying continues to a little extent, or best case scenario the bullying eventually ends and they get along with no issues.

 

[Nathan Aubin]

I really like the net idea, that struck me as near genius.

I like these. I did add all my fish this week a yellow tang and a Solon wrasse then the 2 clowns. They are relatively the same size. One being mildly larger they were in a large 90 gallon coral farm tank. Only about a foot tall but almost 6 feet long 4 feet wide. Lots of room to stay clear of each other. I’m hoping the one that’s beat up will heal and the two will start to get along

 

[Rivus]

I have a 32 gallon biocube with a pair of clowns, Golden sailfin blenny, and orchid dottyback. The orchid isn’t the worst but does chase the other fish if they go near it’s cave

I have a similar setup with a bicolor dotyback, being the aggressor in a 45G with a pair of clowns, bi-color blenny and YWG. He picked on the YWG for awhile but they seem to have a truce, holing up on opposite sides of the tank. The blenny can fend for himself, but lately I've seen him harassing the clowns. I bought the dottyback early on, won't be getting another. Of course this one will probably live for many years!

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

i have a similar problem right now . picked u a beautiful pair of maroon lightning clowns, the one larger one in store was dominant and well it was obvious seems now the rolls have been reversed . the larger one has been beaten into submission, however it isnt stopping . there is now signs of fin damage and the one wont even let the other eat. suggestions

They are most likely both female and not a pair. I think you will have to rehome one of them as they probably won’t get over it

 

[Nathan Aubin]

Great, well its unlikely ill be able to rehome them ill see if the fins will heal on the one and see if the reef store will accept them back.

 

[phil bevilacqua]

I have a purple tang that is a complete buthole...... 220 full stocked sps tank so it is what it is. Lol