Lance's 225 gal tank

[Lance]

Grrrrr!!!!! Vicious Bloody Fish!!!!

The other day I moved the Chocolate Tang and the Coral Beauty from the 90 to the 225. I wasn't too worried about the Angel because they're scrappy little guys and don't take too much crap, plus he's small and quick and can find lots of hidey holes until the resident bullies calm down. I was worried about the tang though because he is only 4" and there is a large 7" Sailfin and a 5" Kole already in this tank. I put the two in a large perforated plexiglass fish box (21x10x14). This box is for acclimating new fish to their neighbours. The fish can see and smell them but can't get at them. The idea is that after awhile they will get used to the newcomers being in the tank. I left the box with the newbies in the tank for 4 days. By this time the other fish were pretty much ignoring them. So yesterday I rearranged the rockwork, added some new rock and corals, dimmed the lights, fed the tank from both ends and released the two. Instant violence! The Tuskfish ignored the food and attacked the tang, biting off half its tail with one bite. The 6" Lamarck's then began battering it with his head. I chased them off and the Tang escaped into the rockwork. I then tried the mirror trick which really pi55ed off the Sailfin but the Tuskfish and Lamarck's ignored it, and were trying to scare the Tang out of hiding. I then turned the lights off and left them off for 24 hours. When I turned them on I found the Tang staggering about with numerous bites and most of its tail and fins torn off. He was so-out-it I was able to easily net him and place him in the frag tank. He's now been in there for 6 hours and has begun to eat. A small dose of Epsom Salts in his water to keep infection away. I'm hoping he'll be alright and I can nurse him back to health and find him a good home. I feel like such a 5hit for putting him through that. I just hate trying to introduce new fish into an established tank. Don't know what else I could have done though. Funny thing is the two big Tangs didn't really bother with him, it was the Tuskfish and the Lamarck's. The Coral Beauty by the way is doing fine, after a few half-hearted chases the others are fine with him. He's eating and exploring his new home.

[fishoholic]

That sucks My mimic tang got jumped in for 3-4 days when I first added him but they all are fine now. It's always a risk adding new fish, I hate it when it doesn't work out.

It also amazes me how some of the most unexpected fish will attack the newbie. My blenny went after my fisheri angel way worse then my flame angel did.

[marie]

If your stuck for a home for him Lance he could go in my 120 with the yellow tang (Doofus would kill him in my big tank).

It is less then ideal because although he sounds like he is the same size or bigger then my yellow I would imagine he would be in for some hazing for a few days.....

[Lance]

Originally Posted by marie

If your stuck for a home for him Lance he could go in my 120 with the yellow tang (Doofus would kill him in my big tank).

It is less then ideal because although he sounds like he is the same size or bigger then my yellow I would imagine he would be in for some hazing for a few days.....

I think he'll be ok in the frag tank Marie. It's 36" long and has live rock and corals in it. When he's healthy again I have to find him a good home though. If you're interested you can have him. I've also got a squammosa you can have.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by fishoholic

That sucks My mimic tang got jumped in for 3-4 days when I first added him but they all are fine now. It's always a risk adding new fish, I hate it when it doesn't work out.

It also amazes me how some of the most unexpected fish will attack the newbie. My blenny went after my fisheri angel way worse then my flame angel did.

I know. It's really hit-and-miss with fish. I just noticed the Coral Beauty eating nori side by side with the Lamarck's like they were old buddies. Stupid fish!

[Delphinus]

Aaarggh, sorry to hear. Stupid fish. Lord of the Flies in our tanks is not as fun as one might think.

Sorry to hear about the 90g shutdown but I understand the reasoning. Sadly it makes sense. I wish I could consolidate the 3 tanks I have now into 1, although I imagine the FW fish would totally hate that after a while.

[lastlight]

Sorry to hear Lance. I've been lucky having never witnessed this new hazing / violence everyone speaks of but perhaps it's because I've had my Kole nearly from the beginning and the only other tang I've added was massive. I also don't have any fish with daggers for teeth like your tusk. Hope he recovers that was a pretty fish for sure.

[Lance]

Happy to say he's doing quite well. Eating like a pig and out & about now. On closer examination the wounds aren't as bad as I first thought. Mostly to the tail and finnage. The several bites to the body are fairly small and not to deep. Already beginning to heal. It always amazes me how fast a healthy fish can heal damaged tissue.

[Lance]

Boy am I stupid! Cleaned up the skimmer from the 90. Ran it overnight in vinegar water and today changed out the water in the tote and added a little bleach to the water, figuring the skimmer would come out nice and clean and shiny. Turned on the skimmer and left it for a couple of hours. Big mistake! The bubbles from the skimmer released the bleach into the air making it unbreathable. Lucky it was only the garage. Have had the door open for a couple of hours and I can at least go into the room now. Twit!