Aggressive but dumb

[Idle Moor]

I've been able to trap my aggro lemonpeel angel three times in a week using the same simple trap of a piece of eggcrate leaned set against a corner of the tank. I leaned it away at the top and lured him in with dried bloodworms in a ring feeder, then tilted it back against the walls when he was inside.

I did it first time about 10 days ago when he went ballistic against 3 royal grammas I put in the tank. I kept him confined in the trap for a week, then let him out 2 days ago. He was again totally butt-headed about the grammas, and just running around the tank like crazy in general trying to establish his dominance.

So I set the trap again last night and had him in 5 minutes. But I was lax in making sure the crate was tight against the walls and he escaped. So I reset it, and had him again in half an hour. Jeez. This guy is testosterone crazy I think.

So I'm putting him in the sump for a good while I think, although I'm not optimistic he will ever adapt well to tank life. At least I think I will be able to trap him out again if he fails again. And if he does, what do you do with a fish that doesn't fit in?

 

[mallorieGgator]

It's usually best to add an angel as your last fish because they are territorial in general. I would try rearranging the rocks or putting something new in the tank. I think someone said a clean large glass vase right in the middle of the tank worked. This makes things look different and makes him think the territory isn't his. I would take him out, rearrange things, then add him back in after all the other fish have calmed down.

 

[chimmike]

those guys aren't really reef safe either.

If he's got that much of a problem, probably a good idea to get him to a better home.

 

[Idle Moor]

Interesting idea with the vase. He's not in a reef so that's not an issue. I may start looking for another owner. Unfortunately he has a gimpy pectoral so he's not as desirable as he might be. Damn I may be stuck w him.

 

[julie180]

I've had pretty good luck with fishy timeout in the sump. I would say 2-3 weeks will be enough to let the grammas get established.

BTW, how big of a tank do you have?

 

[Idle Moor]

I've had pretty good luck with fishy timeout in the sump. I would say 2-3 weeks will be enough to let the grammas get established.

BTW, how big of a tank do you have?

It's a 135 with some really wonderful live rock honeycombed with holes and passages like Swiss cheese that is perfect for the grammas. I like mapping out the tunnels by tracking which ones they go into and which ones they come out of.

The one week time out was enough to get the grammas established and they are always close enuf to a hole to escape, as long as they see him coming. But then they are always hovering near the rocks or dashing for cover whenever the lemonpeel comes into view or hiding and it's making a stressful experience for everyone involved.

 

[julie180]

You probably don't what your grammas living on "high" alert all the time. Would you want to?

I think you need to get the angel out of the tank. You just have to decide if he can be "reformed" in the sump or back to the LFS.