Attack Puffer?!?

[golfnut]

Tonight for no apparent reason my Porcupine Puffer (6")decided he'd take a bite out of my lineatus tang (3")!

The tang is understandably freaked out right now, but he's still grazing on the rock. You can clearly see the outline of the puffer's mouth on the back of the tang's dorsal.

The puffer's been in tank 10 weeks and the tang 8, and there's never been any aggression between them. I've had issues with other fish and the tang, but I solved that problem by taking the miniatus back to the LFS. Clearly, if I had it to do over again I'd have waited for a bigger tang, but what's done is done.

What would cause the porky to do this? I didn't actually see the attack, but the only 2 fish with mouths as big as the mark on the tang are the puffer and a Russell's lion. I don't see how it could've been the lion, because it looks like something chomped down hard on the tang's back.

Is there anything I can or should do for the tang, or just let him heal like he has after previous attacks from the grouper and my mean as hell Emperor (who also went back to the LFS)?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[stars&stripes]

melafix might help him to heal more quickly.

 

[LRS078]

melafix can help, just be sure to turn off your protein skimmer first or you will have a foam party.... (ask me how I know j/k)

Are these two in the 240 in your profile? What is the aquascaping like? Are there some caves for the puffer and some caves for the tang?

Puffers like to experience their environment mouth first...(esp porcs) He may of been "testing" the tang. If it keeps up I'd be more worried. Keep up some veggies (nori) for the tang and if he eats them something like spectrum pellets and that (along w' the melafix) should help with the fin growth.

BTW, who all is in the tank?

 

[threeheaddog]

he has turned to the darkside....

pppufferers do this

he is now a mean fish. by my expierience

isolate him for a week then reintroduce and hope he turns back.

 

[fishes2889]

if you research aboutpuffers they like to take an ocassional bite out of the samller fish to show the others who's boss. hence, the name agressive fish. for right now u just might want to keep the tang in there. if it continues do what threeheaddog said and isolate the puffer for a week or so....