Anyone with more than 1 rabbitfish in a tank?

Delphinus · #1 11-26-2007, 04:08 AM

Anyone with more than 1 rabbitfish in a tank?

Introduced at different times?

If so, how did it go.....

Salmon King · #2 11-26-2007, 04:30 AM

I see them at the pet store different species and the same .Never seen any aggretion.I actually had 2 different kinds one time

Psyire · #3 11-26-2007, 05:33 AM

I have two Rabbitfish in my 180g.

Introduced over a year apart. They are model citizens and I've never seen any aggression between them, actually they hang out together quite a lot.

Species:

Siganus magnifica (Magnificent Foxface)
Siganus punctatus (Gold Spotted)

Delphinus · #4 11-26-2007, 05:41 AM

Ok, thanks.

I don't know why but I already had the thought that they would be OK together. I asked around by word of mouth and got a few opinions that confirmed this (and now your replies seem to be in line with that too).

Tonight I bought a (tiny) S. doliatus (might be virgatus, but might be doliatus. I've been looking for doliatus for well over 18 months now

).

My established S. virgatus was not too happy about it. But the little guy seemed to want to seek out the bigger guy for comfort or something, but the big guy was showing some aggression.

Turning off my lights seemed to pacify him for now. I'll have to see how things go tomorrow.

I guess everytime I've added a fish it's always been this ... for about a week or so, and then things calm down. Gads though, I keep forgetting how stressful it is for the first little while.

I almost wonder if I'm better off buying a second fish just so that there isn't just "one" newcomer. The tank is 115g cube, the fish inhabitants are the rabbitfish (1 for about 1 year, and then 1 from today), and a dottyback. So it's not like it's an overfull tank, at least. The rabbitfish didn't react whatsoever when the dottyback was added but I guess they inhabit different zones of the reef (one's an open water swimmer and one's a rock dweller) and they look nothing alike.

Anyhow, thanks for the replies. I'll keep my eyes open and try to be ready to split them out if need be ... but I'm hoping for the best.

Psyire · #5 11-26-2007, 06:43 AM

Yeah, I'm not so sure my situation is similar. The difference between my Rabbits are quite dramatic and they look nothing a like. (other than shape)

My guess is that things will calm down in a week or two. (as you mentioned) If he keeps eating and doesn't get beat up too badly then I wouldn't worry too much.

tang daddy · #6 11-26-2007, 07:32 AM

tony when the new guy gets settled in let's see some pics!

oh and what kind of dtback a gamma?

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #7 11-26-2007, 05:03 PM

If there is aggression between my old & new fish (ie. tangs) I usually keep the lights off for an extra day & make sure they stay well fed with Nori on clips & target feedings. That seems to calm them down. A lot of aggression between these vegetarians is due to fear that their food supply will now be threatened by the newcomer I believe.

Delphinus · #8 11-26-2007, 05:37 PM

Thanks. Yeah, I've left my lights unplugged for today. They were pretty much in sleep mode within 5 minutes of turning off the lights last night.

The dottyback is an orchid dottyback, Psuedochromis fridmani. Unfortunately I can't get good pictures of him as he's far too fast, and those that I do get, the colour is way way off. He shows up as all-the-way purple in pictures, but in person is more of a pink with a subtle suggestion of purple.

The doliatus looks *exactly* like a 1.5" version of the virgatus, so much so that I'm not 100% certain it isn't a virgatus, but has blue stripes all the way back to tail instead of spots. Hopefully in time it will be more evident. I'll see what I can do about pictures.

Here's a recent-ish (from August) picture of the virgatus:

Delphinus · #9 11-26-2007, 05:39 PM

Actually I guess I do have some pictures of the dottyback:

... but the colour is way way off. In person, this fish is pink... I'm not sure what to adjust to get the colour right.

Delphinus · #10 12-05-2007, 03:08 AM

Update: After about 2 days they started getting along more or less fine. The big guy will occasionally charge the little guy just to show who's boss, I guess, but there's no contact. The little guy is eating like a pig now and a lot bolder.

That's the good news. The bad news .... I'm pretty sure he's another virgatus not a doliatus. Argh! What is with this whole "no doliatus's in Canada since at least August 2006" thing???

Bummer ... I guess I will keep hoping for one someday.