Angel Behavioral Question

[Kirru]

Hey all, I have a flame angel that i have had for about a year or maybe over a year. Anyway, its in a 40g breeder with SPS, LPS, and softies. It has never nipped at any of the corals and to this day has never nipped any corals. However, its started to show signs of aggression towards my black and white clowns. Its keeping them in a corner by the overflow. I also recently noticed that the lower fins near the tail, that have the purple and such, have been nipped off. by what? i do not know.

what could be causing its aggression?

Does it need to me taken out? I really like it and wanna keep it. I have a 25g zoa tank with a 2.5" harptail (mozambique) blenny and a pair of mated clowns that I can put it in.


Thanks, Cory

 

[skibum9884]

I'm surprised that the flame is acting aggressively toward the clowns. However, I wouldn't be concerned about damage being done to the flame if he/she is the aggressor, but rather any harm being done to the clowns. How long has this been going on?

What else do you have in the tank?

 

[Kirru]

No damage to the clowns as of yet. And it started, or at least I saw, yesterday. The clowns were the first inhabitants of the tank when it was set up. The angel was added about 3-4 months later.

Current Tank Mates:
2 B&W Misbar Clowns
1 Flame Angel
1 Scooter Blenny
1 Watchman goby with tiger pistol shrimp
1 indigo dottyback
2 Porclean Crabs

I believe that is all I think, unless a fish I put in there which was presumed dead is still raoming around in the rock work.

Also, most recent addition to the tank was a MP40w ES and I removed a Tunze 6025 and a MJ1200.. I also have a RBTA, a thread was posted on here in Feb. iirc, that decided to check out the tunze one night. That incident sped up my intentions of upgrading power heads.

Also, the flame isn't biting but rather trying to lay on them... kind of like how the clowns to in the nem they host. I just remembered that I saw a few times before that the flame looked as if it were trying to 'host' the nem along with the clowns. could that have been the start?

 

[Kirru]

I guess no one has a clue then? Luckily everyone is asleep so no worries for the night but tomorrow is another day...

 

[Sheol]

Frankly, no. I've never heard of behavior like this from any angel. Its a real mystery, not like out & out aggression. Now there, we would have suggestions for you..

Sincerely,
Matthew

 

[Kirru]

Well then... I'm just up the creek without a paddle...

Today it seems the angel has slacked off. But in all honestly it looks as if its trying to mate, or host, or something along that nature. Maybe if I can get a video of it doing this, it'll have more explanation. Keep a look out. Hmmm... this really is out there..

 

[AuroraDrvr]

There was a post on here, the owner of a pair of clowns introduced a Potter's angelfish, and the Potter's started attacking the clowns.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1839537&highlight=potters+clowns

As mentioned by LargeAngels in the other thread, I'd recommend seperating them, either by egg crate, specimen container or breeding net.