blue hippo tang maiming my clown fish

[reverendmaynard]

My blue hippo tang has eaten a good 1/3 of the fins off my maroon clown fish. The tang is about 3" and the clown is 1-1.5". I got the clown one day before the BH about a week and a half ago.

The clown doesn't act like there's any problem! It just swims in the open water, right in the midst of the BH and a yellow tang. It has never seemed interested in going into the LR, just swimming around in the open. At night it sleeps near the surface, in the corner over the powerhead.

I actually witnessed the very first bite. The clown had perfect fins then! That one was a decent size (about 1/16"x1/8") bite, out of the tail fin but then nothing for a couple of days. Then another chunk was missing. Then nothing for almost a week. The last two day's though, the three fins along the bottom of the body have gotten about half of each taken off. Still the fish appears to be unconcerned! He eats ravenously and is constantly searching for little bits floating in the curent.

I give the tangs macroalgae (tang heaven from ipsf) and feed the tank about 3 good size pinches of flake food daily.

I've moved the clown into the refugium for now, so he's probably safe for now.

Does anyone have any ideas to help this situation? Any thoughts on how long it takes for the fins to grow back? Do you think if I let it grow a little it'll be safe?

 

[NCreefwannabe]

Either get rid of the hippo or the clown. Thats about your only options.

 

[Horizon Canopy]

If the clownfish is still eating and healthy, the fins should heal quickly. ( a few days i'm guessing) i would think a bigger maroon clown should be able to fend for itself against a hippo tang so maybe give it a shot after it grows a little.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Yep, Marroons are mean!! He'll be fine ...he may end up being the king of the tank

 

[reverendmaynard]

So, maybe a month or two in the fuge to give hime time to heal and grow? Does this open water swimming sound like just a phase? Aren't clowns normally territorial and will pick a cave or something for shelter and defend it? This clown seems to prefer open water, and strong current. This is fine by me as he's always very visible, but makes him easy pickings for the tang. Even after being bitten, he didn't make any attempt to hide from the other fish, just kept cruising around, looking for floaties. My royal gramma is much more sensible. She's got a large rock she likes with multiple tunnels and caves in it she can easily hide in. She never ventures far enough to get caught by any other fish (not that the tang seems to actively "hunt" the other fishes, just likes to nibble on them now and then, LOL!), except at feeding time.

 

[Horizon Canopy]

When your clown finds something to host in, like an anemone or coral, he'll settle down there. until then, he'll probably roam around the tank.

 

[reverendmaynard]

I have some anthelia polyps that I was hoping he would host in, but AFAIK, he never paid any attention to them. The tank's too new, and my lights are not strong enough, for anemones or corals yet. I think I'll let the situation settle down for a few weeks with the clown in the fuge healing up. During that time, I'll get my lights setup and the tank will be more mature. Then, maybe I'll get a bta or something.

 

[reverendmaynard]

Update:

The new VHOs are installed. I've only got 2 of the 4 bulbs on for now while the inhabitants acclimate, but it's already far brighter than it was. With the 4 it's like staring at the sun!

Anyway, the clowns not fully healed yet, but he's getting there. Seems happy enough in the fuge.

So, the plan was always to have 2 clowns, but the store only had the one very nice maroon, so I got that. I want to add another, and should probably do it at the same time I try to reintroduce this clown into the display. That way they'll both be new to the environment, and it'll be easier to get one of similar size while it's still small. Hopefully, each will also serve as "dither" for the other with the tang, so if there's any nipping it wont be too bad.

Any thoughts?

 

[Fishfirst]

If you get them to host in a coral I'm pretty sure they'll be a lot more aggressive

 

[reverendmaynard]

Thanks for the reply.

Do you think theres a good chance the clowns will get along if I get one the same size (about 1")?

Any recommendations on a coral that's both hardy and clown friendly?

BTW, nice avatar...