coral nipping Tomini

[drdavethedude]

I added an adolescent Tomini Tang to my 120 gallon, which homes 2 gobies, a royal gramma, and a bunch of LPS corals. He's been in there a month and from the start has been a jerk to my gobies, threatening them with his tail. They barely show their faces anymore( but I figured I would be patient. Gets along great with the gramma which swims next to him. I give him Nori on a clip a few times a week, and feed NLS pellets and mysis daily.

Yesterday I caught him repeatedly nipping my red Trachy and Christmas Favia. The bites don't seem too damaging, more like kisses, but the corals don't appreciate it.
I've read the forums and the general experience seems that once a nipper always a nipper.

Is this true? Has anyone had fish that "outgrew" this habit? It's a drag to get rid of him, especially after the effort of a 2 month quarantine to make sure he was healthy, but I'm much more of a "coral guy" than a "fish guy". I'm not sure I can trust him anymore, especially if I go away and my tank sitter only feeds every couple of days. Should the fish be pulled?

I would appreciate hearing the experience of others,
Thanks,
Dave

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Are you sure it's not just trying to eat algae on corals? If the damage is not significant I would leave the fish there. As far as feedings go, try using an automated feeder when you are gone. It works really well.

 

[degibson84]

Are you sure it's not just trying to eat algae on corals? If the damage is not significant I would leave the fish there. As far as feedings go, try using an automated feeder when you are gone. It works really well.

This...




My tomini is always nipping at things but it's always him just grazing. It's part of their natural behavior. He has never harmed the corals. Yes the polyps close up but he is t doing damage to them

 

[drdavethedude]

Thanks for chiming in guys....he's definitely nipping the tissue, well away from the margins where algae could potentially be. Also, he gives a few nips every time he swims past the 2 corals, which is every few minutes. I agree that he doesn't seem to be damaging the flesh as the nips seem fairly benign, but the corals do stay retracted for some time, and I'm worried the repeated annoyance of the coral will lead to their deterioration. Not sure what to do. I've got a make-shift trap ready to go if needed, but maybe I'm over-reacting.

Dave

 

[CoralsAddiction]

coral nipping Tomini

If it's ripping chunks of corals and eating them like the powder blue tang in the video below then I say definitely boot him. Otherwise keep him.
Here's the vid: http://youtu.be/M5_hO4OWea0

 

[HumbleFish]

My Chevron (also a bristletooth) is constantly picking in-between my LPS looking for algae. He does it all day long, and sometimes he hits the tissue and it retracts. It is annoying, but so far no permanent damage that I've seen.

But it's also possible you've got a rogue tang on your hands. It happens... more often than people think. Maybe start feeding him nori daily to give him something else to nip on.

 

[HumbleFish]

If it's ripping chunks of corals and eating them like the powder blue tang in the video below then I say definitely boot him. Otherwise keep him.
Here's the vid: http://youtu.be/M5_hO4OWea0

Yup, that's a rogue tang! Is that candy cane he's destroying?

 

[CoralsAddiction]

coral nipping Tomini

Yup, that's a rogue tang! Is that candy cane he's destroying?

Don't know exactly what that green corals is but the tang is going full out 187 on it...murder. Lol.
To OP, sounds like yours is going to be ok.

 

[drdavethedude]

Whoa! My Tomini is definitely not like that...that powder blue needs serious therapy...mine just gives repeated little nips like a gentleman...but it's definitely ****ing off the targets of his affection! I'm going to wait and see what happens. You guys have definitely kept me from hastily over-reacting and pulling the little guy. I will give him some time and see what happens...I hope he also cuts my Gobies some slack very soon.:worried:

 

[johnike]

My Tomini is constantly nipping/grazing as well, doesn't seem to bother the corals.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I honestly thing your tang is fine. Were gobies added after Tomini?

 

[drdavethedude]

I honestly thing your tang is fine. Were gobies added after Tomini?

Interestingly no. The Yellow Watchman and Yasha were both well established when the Tomini was added. The Yellow Watchman I've had for 7 years and she was very bold and active. The Yasha I've had about a year, and she has always been skittish. The first day I added the Tomini, the Yellow Watchman tried showing him who is boss, and quickly got pummeled. Ever since then, the Tomini immediately guns for her as soon as she tries leaving her hole. I knew the Tomini would be aggressive if I added additional Tangs, but wasn't expecting this behavior towards Gobies. I want to add a couple more fish in the near future, but now am not sure how successful that will be.:facepalm:

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Are you sure you are feeding enough? Tangs like to eat a lot.