Copperband Hates Dragonet ?

[lllesley]

ok. so in the old tank these 2 fish never had a problem at all EVER !
But since the move (i am thinking lost pods so food competition) but really don't know.
Our Copperband hates our Dragonet ?
Every time he spies the dragonet on a rock he races over (sometimes the full length of the tank) and either blocks him in to a whole or shoves him off the rock, he doesn't use his mouth but maneuvers his body sideways & keeps pushing him , once he is off the rock and on the sand he up until now was leaving him alone.
Yesterday he not only gently herded him off the rock but once he got on the sand he swam over him and physically sat on top of him, then flicked his body a few times and swam off.
The male dragonet seems to take it in his stride and move on, but the little girl actually fights back, she tries to bite him.
I don't understand this behavior as the dragonets are no threat to him at all.
Has anyone seen this before, how can we try to stop it ?
I am worried it might be causing stress to the dragonets ?
Believe me my fish get fed a lot of food so cant give them anymore.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I tried to take a video of this but every time I got close to copperband with the camera he swam off and left him alone. Its like he knows he is being naughty

 

[snorvich]

The only way to fix the problem is to take the CBB or the dragonet out.

 

[Kidd Reef]

The only way to fix the problem is to take the CBB or the dragonet out.

^ this, Id ditch CBB since you've got a pair of dragonets and CBB can be coral munchers. but thats me personally. Only a matter of time before one of those mandarins get hurt, butterfly spines can be nasty.

 

[snorvich]

^ this, Id ditch CBB since you've got a pair of dragonets and CBB can be coral munchers. but thats me personally. Only a matter of time before one of those mandarins get hurt, butterfly spines can be nasty.

This brings up an interesting point. If you do have coral, CBB can become "not coral safe" over time even if initially not picking. I too would favor a dragonet but that is because I find them more interesting.

 

[aquaph8]

I'd ride it out for a bit and see if it stops, if not maybe a short time out for the CB will help. I honestly don't see this behavior between these two particular fish lasting for long.

 

[lllesley]

I'd ride it out for a bit and see if it stops, if not maybe a short time out for the CB will help. I honestly don't see this behavior between these two particular fish lasting for long.

We will ride it out. It is not an option getting rid of either of these fish, copperband took 6 weeks of TLC and feed from our hands, dragonets are a mated pair that do their dance every night, i think the responses to just - remove copperband is a total over reaction. As I said in original post he is not hurting them he is just not happy with them.
I am hoping that as the tank matures a little and the natural food source returns he will settle down. I am organizing some pods to go in the sump & will see what happens.

Thanks @aquaph8 appreciate your support.

 

[lllesley]

^ this, Id ditch CBB since you've got a pair of dragonets and CBB can be coral munchers. but thats me personally. Only a matter of time before one of those mandarins get hurt, butterfly spines can be nasty.

agreed with butterfly spines being nasty, but he is not using his spines to intimidate them, like in the photos he just turns his body sideways and sort of herds them off the rock. I have not seen him be so call - aggressive yet.