Bristletooth tang attacking golby

[dcw1sfu]

So I've had my two spot bristletooth tang for about 5 months without any problems and my yellow watchman golby for about 6 months. Latley I've been catching my tang attacking the golby when he pops his head out from the burrow. Seems to attack his head with his mouth and the golby just stays there and takes it. Of course you can tell by the look on the golby face it's hurting him.

I've moved a couple small rocks on the sandbed to see if that helps as I really can't change my entire landscape but it's continuing.

Any suggestions besides trying to catch the tang and get rid of him. Would hate to hate to do that as he is really looking fantastic but I don't want him hurting or killing my golby.

 

[Beefy_Reefy]

Tape a mirror on tank. Tang might put his attention on his reflection instead of goby. Although it's a temporary solution.

 

[Fish Biscuit]

What size tank & can you remove the tang for a time out? I think you should try to move the rocks around to change things up.

 

[indyjaco]

I had that happen to me with a two spot.

I removed the tang and the gobies thrived.

 

[dcw1sfu]

What size tank & can you remove the tang for a time out? I think you should try to move the rocks around to change things up.

Its a 60 gallon so kinda the bare minimum for a 2 spot bristletooth. I really cant move the rocks everything is epoxied and in all honesty as much as i love the look of the fish i love the look of my aquascape and coral placement more.

I dont have another tank to put the tang in either for a timeout unfortunatley. Maybe ill try the mirror thing but im assuming that might also make my other fish in the tank attack the mirror heh.

 

[dcw1sfu]

I had that happen to me with a two spot.

I removed the tang and the gobies thrived.

Did you replace it with another tang? Im thinking i could possibly replace it with a kole tang as it might do ok in my size tank. Other then that my tank is to small for any other tangs.

Maybe i could remove it and try my luck with either a coral beuty or flame angel. I love those 2 fish as well, i guess id just have to hope to hell they dont start nipping at my corals =)

 

[dcw1sfu]

After watching the tank for a bit its funny the tang only seems to attack the golby when he comes out of his burrows in the front of the tank. If he comes out to guard any of his holes in the rear of the tank the tang will completley ingore him. Swims right over top of him and around him and leaves him completley alone.

Of course really defeats the purpose of having a yellow watchman golby and tiger pistol pair when they are in the back and you cant even see them.

 

[indyjaco]

Mine did something similar in the way he attacked. It annoyed me. I replaced him with a Scopas tang.

I will say flame angels have tons of personality and seem to be fairly intelligent. I've had a couple angels with no picking issues.