Pinktail triggers can be quite aggressive
Pinktail triggers can be quite aggressive
For anyone following along, 2 observations:
1. Pinktail triggers can indeed be quite aggressive when inspired
2. Mirrors really do work for distracting aggressive fish
I introduced the crosshatch pair on Friday and left all lights off for 24 hours. Even in the dark, the pinktail went bonkers harassing the crosshatches, eventually getting so worked up that he started also chasing many of the other long-time residents of the tank.
After doing a bit of my own stressing out thinking the crosshatches wouldn't last the weekend, I remembered reading a tip here that a mirror could be used to distract established fish when introducing new residents. I propped up a 16x20 mirror against the front wall of the tank, and sure enough, as soon as the pinktail noticed, he had a new primary target. He had such a grand time threatening his twin that he almost couldn't be bothered to eat for the rest of the weekend-- he'd swim up briefly to grab one or two bites, then bolt straight back to the mirror to check up on the 'new guy'. The powder blue tang and one of the chromis also spent most of the weekend in front of the mirror posturing.
3 days later, the crosshatch introduction seems to have been successful. Or at least they are both eating well and no longer getting singled out for aggression.