Chalk bass being bullied by coral beauty

[mcowan]

I have a 55 gallon saltwater tank - slowly building the tank (had it running all summer)

I got a chalk bass and a canarytop wrasse a month ago and they were doing great. Decided to get two clowns and a coral beauty and added them to the tank yesterday. All the fish have been out and about swimming around except the chalk bass, which has been hiding in the live rock.

When I fed them today, the chalk bass came out from his hiding spot hesitantly but the coral beauty chased after it right away. I haven't seen him come back out since =(

What should I do? I know it's a bit early to panic since I just added the coral beauty yesterday but I'm worried about the poor little chalk bass. He's definitely half the size of the coral beauty so I worry the bullying will continue. Would it make sense to get another chalk bass to even things out?

 

[sdbc]

I don't think getting another chalk bass would solve the problem. You would either have 2 of them in hiding or the coral beauty would ignore the new one and still go after the one in hiding. I would give it a few days to see how it shakes out with the one you have. Maybe they will reach a truce. Dwarf angels can be aggressive (my flame angel shanked a blue Atlantic chromis that was the same size after several months together). You will need to keep that in mind going forward.

 

[ca1ore]

Chalk basslets are pretty wimpy, particularly when small. As long as yours was not already starved, give it a week or two to sort out. Removal may be necessary.

 

[mcowan]

It's all good now! The chalk bass has been out and about for the last few days and seems happy again. I think they were just establishing territory =)