About to turn sailfin to sushi

L

Lucky Lefty

New member
I just need to vent for a moment.

My sailfin literally had me screaming at the tank today in ager over his aggression. He's constantly chasing other fish, nipping at my puffers fins, and now has my newest fish terrified to leave a corner of the tank.

He's about 6 inches long, and just a huge jerk. I got a butterfly fish the other day, left the butterfly in an acclimation box for 24 hours amd yesterday the butterfly was enjoying the tank and hunting all over. The sailfin wasn't too aggressive but occasionally would chase the butterfly for a Coue seconds and then move on.
Well at night the sailfin turns into a maniac, and attacks my puffer throughout the night, tail whips the glass anytime I come near and just acts like a complete D word.

Today was the last straw for me. To see the butterfly hovering in the same spot he was this morning had me irritated. Anytime the butterfly would leave the corner, the sailfin would spot him and chase him back.
Butterfly is eating and trying to hunt, he just keeps getting chased by this damn fish.

I'm about to point my spear gun at him.

If I may give him 24 hours to shape up, or he's getting shipped out.
I've loved him since I got him, but the aggression is at a boiling point for me.

Venting done. For now.
 
I'll give that a try I'm assuming that I should put the mirror up on the side where the sailfin hangs out all the time right. Try to keep him occupied is the goal?
 
According to your Sig, you have a 150 gallon tank, a Sailfin needs a 240. So he's the same shape as a Buttefly in a tank that's too small, seems like the death of the butterfly is the logical outcome here.
 
Not trying to start a bandwagon here, but I agree with strike2867 on this one. When my sailfin was in a 55g QT with a few other fish, it was a total butthole to all fish. Not only the kole tang that was in QT with it.

When I moved it to my 225g DT it is most definitely the dominant fish, and will dash at a fish every now and then, but is much less aggressive than it was in the smaller tank. They are classified as semi-aggressive under the right conditions. It'll probably get worse in cramped quarters...

caribfan was right as well. The mirror trick will buy your other fish some time to get settled in the new tank, but will not be a permanent solution...
The mirror may also help you catch the sailfin if you decide to remove it...

Best of luck!!!
 
Honestly, I don't think the difference from a 6' long 150 to 225 or 240 is a big enough difference between an aggressive fish or non aggressive fish.

I am in the market for a 300g, but even an 8' tank doesn't seem big enough.
I think it's just the personality of the fish.
Since I returned home about an hour ago, he seems to be calming down towards the butterfly, and the butterfly is cruising all over hunting/eating, even next to the sailfin.

I'm assuming it could be nerves from both ends for the most part, and a patience breakdown on my part.

The sailfin likes to flex his muscles alot. Dash after a fish for a quick second, and circle back. For some reason he only nips my puffer, but again he seems to get insanely territorial at night.

I do appreciate the input however. A bigger tank is always better, for any fish really.
 
Dude don't get mad at the fish because you bought a fish that is way too big for the tank you have. That fish gets HUGE and they grow fast. Get mad at yourself for putting that fish in your tank before doing the proper research. Those are beautiful fish and it deserves a proper home.
 
campos said:
Dude don't get mad at the fish because you bought a fish that is way too big for the tank you have. That fish gets HUGE and they grow fast. Get mad at yourself for putting that fish in your tank before doing the proper research. Those are beautiful fish and it deserves a proper home.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input.
 
i'm not one of those "guys", but what did you expect the responses here were going to be? or maybe you're getting the exact responses you seek?

and i will agree 150 is to small for a sailfin!
 
CHSUB said:
i'm not one of those "guys", but what did you expect the responses here were going to be? or maybe you're getting the exact responses you seek?

and i will agree 150 is to small for a sailfin!
Click to expand...

The first line I wrote was that I needed to vent. This is a forum about fish. Instead of talking to myself, because I don't know anyone personally to talk about my fish woes, I came here to vent my frustrations.
Wasn't asking what I did wrong.
Didn't ask for advice or why the sailfin was acting this way.
I expected the judgement, and responses. Which is why I was hesitant to vent on this forum. But I frequent here, and again, no one to personally vent to.
I didn't argue with the responses. I read them, appreciated and considered there input and didn't really know what else to respond with except thank you so they knew in read it, and appreciated the feedback.

Hope this doesn't come off as defensive, not my intentions.
Anyhow, thanks for the input as well.
 
sure, and aggression may have nothing to do with tank size. fish maybe fine now, but imo will make for a poor display in a few years.
 
Lucky Lefty said:
I'll give that a try I'm assuming that I should put the mirror up on the side where the sailfin hangs out all the time right. Try to keep him occupied is the goal?
Click to expand...

You can put the mirror wherever you want, as soon as he sees himself, he won't be paying attention to much else.

The goal is shifting aggression.
 
CHSUB said:
sure, and aggression may have nothing to do with tank size. fish maybe fine now, but imo will make for a poor display in a few years.
Click to expand...
I agree that he will be too big, probably sooner than later. I personally don't think a 5 inch fish is too big for a 150g. If I do not upgrade to a 300g in 2016, I'll most likely be finding him a new home.

Even now, if the aggression persists at this level or escalates, he has to go. I don't want to sit and watch a tank of scared fish and a giant, cramped tang who's PO'd. Doesn't sound like fun and certainly doesn't look fun.

Thanks again.
 
Lucky Lefty said:
The first line I wrote was that I needed to vent. This is a forum about fish. Instead of talking to myself, because I don't know anyone personally to talk about my fish woes, I came here to vent my frustrations.
Wasn't asking what I did wrong.
Didn't ask for advice or why the sailfin was acting this way.
I expected the judgement, and responses. Which is why I was hesitant to vent on this forum. But I frequent here, and again, no one to personally vent to.
I didn't argue with the responses. I read them, appreciated and considered there input and didn't really know what else to respond with except thank you so they knew in read it, and appreciated the feedback.

Hope this doesn't come off as defensive, not my intentions.
Anyhow, thanks for the input as well.
Click to expand...

great attitude
 
until my recent tankapolyspe I had a 6" desjardini sailfin in the 180G. I loved it so much they are so beautiful and full of personality. Then I went snorkeling in Hawaii was then I realized I made a mistake. Seeing sailfin tangs grow upward of 14" and the size of a football when the fins are down was an eye opening experience. It humbled me and made me realized I desperately needed to upgrade the tank to accommodate the sailfin's terminal size. And that's why I feel the total destruction of my tank is a good wake up call. and even with 180G now I am planning to keep only one tang, and that tang is not going to be a sailfin because I cannot bring myself to cage a giant in a bathtub, sort to speak.
 
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