Fish Bully Problem...Maybe?

[kleach]

So I have a 65 Gal Red Sea Max as my display which had 2 clowns and a flame angel in it for the past month. The clowns were fighting so much that I had to pull the bigger one and put it in the QT (Not really a QT, just an observation tank).

In the meantime I've had a Blue tang and yellow mimic tang in the 29 gallon QT for the past month. I just acclimated both the blue tang and mimic tang to the Red Sea, put them in and left the house for 2 hours.

When I can home I saw that the mimic tang looks beat up; I can see his fins are pretty ripped up. The Flame Angel was chasing him a little so my first instinct is to pull the flame and let the mimic get used to the tank, set up a territory and try re-intorducing the flame later. If that doesnt work I'd be willing to get rid of the flame.

Should I pull the flame ASAP, or let them work it out? Also, will the fins grow back on the mimic. He was absolutely gorgeous and now looks so....blah. I feel so bad for him.

Please respond ASAP and PM me with any ideas.

Thanks!

 

[RayL]

Did you put the two tangs and angel all in a 65G, if so, that tank is far too small and you will most likely always have aggression problems between those fish. I would definitely remove the blue tang, as for the mimic and angel, I would recommend you turn the lights off for a few days too let them settle down a bit

 

[kleach]

Thanks for responding...

Yea, I knew going into this that the tang situation is only temporary seeing that they need large tanks. But, I was hoping that I could hang onto the tangs for a few months, maybe a year. kind of impulse bought because they were pretty, I was slightly under-educated and the LFS said that they should be good for a while, but that eventually they will outgrow the tank.

The blue Hippo tang and Mimic tangs are best buds. Ever since they found each other in the 29 gallon qt/observation tank they have been swimming together and eating off the same algae clip at the same time. I know with maturity this will change, but my current issue was between the Flame and Mimic...the blue hippo is not involved whatsoever (or so it appears). the flame swam right past the blue hippo and right to the mimic to chase him away. I guess I would be overreacting if I pulled the flame out right away...right?

Thanks so much and I will definitely keep a watchful eye on the aggression in this size tank. I already regret getting such a small tank, but for now thats what my current situation allowed. All in good time I'll have a nice big tank where flames and tangs will all just get along!

 

[RayL]

First off, I think as long as you don't put too many fish In the tank, the mimic and flame should both be able to live permanently in your tank, obviously the blue won't.

Secondly, if its possible, remove the flame, put him In the QT for a week and let the mimic own the DT for a week, then introduce the flame with the lights off for two days and you should be good to go, atleast I hope you will be

Third, you are not the only person wishing you bought a bigger tank then what you have, I would say probably about 75% of people wish they bought a bigger tank

 

[humaguy]

did you rearrange the lr and leave the lights off for a couple days after adding?

 

[kleach]

Added them last nights with lights out. Lights are off for today.

It took me HOURS to get the Live Rock the way I liked it...then changed it again, and again and finally I'm happy with it. It makes complete sense to re-arrange to destroy any territory the flame already set up, but I dont have the time right now to do that.

Hopefully over the weekend I'll be able to play with it. Had I known this would have been an issue then I would have waited to add the mimic. I just thought the flame was good because he showed no signs of agression to the clown fish.

I'm still learning! Thanks so much. Any other suggestions?

 

[anbosu]

I would take the mimic out - they aren't as big as some other acanthurus tangs but they still need more room than a 65 gallon tank.

 

[humaguy]

I would take the mimic out - they aren't as big as some other acanthurus tangs but they still need more room than a 65 gallon tank.

It is good practice unless you have a peaceful tank...anytime a new fish is added the rock should be rearranged and the lights should mostly be off for at least a couple days...
good luck and please keep us updated...

 

[kleach]

Thanks!

Yea the Mimic is still juveniule so I will try and keep him for as long as possible, but realistically will have to get rid of him when he grows up a little. Who knows, by then I might have a bigger tank. The guy at LFS told me that they will grow slower, but ultimately their lives will be shorter. That would seem so cruel to keep them in a tank that is too small and will shorten their lives!

I wish someone told me about re-arranging the rock work every time I intorduce a fish! I wouldnt have tried so hard to make a nice aquascape. Also, I have corals so Lights off for a few days shouldnt bother them...right? And on that note, I might have to eventually get rid of the flame is he starts eating them lol. Im playing a big game of "if's"

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

The coral should be fine. If you have a clam, you may want to re-home it. I lost mine in a 3 day lights out period for algae related issues...

 

[kleach]

No clams yet...system is too young. Eventually I will get one!

Good news though (cautiously optimistic)! The Mimic and Flame seem to be getting along now. They were swimming right past each other without either even looking at the other. The Mimic seems comfortable because he was grazing the rock with the flame right behind and didnt seem to care at all.

In fact, despite my better judgement I decided to see what would happen if I turned the lights on and nothing changed. Both of them were grazing and floating around the rocks. The blue hippo likes to stick near the mimic tang and the clown fish is friendly with all.

I hope their little battle was just a one day thing, but I'm going to be keeping a watchful eye. Thanks for all the help and if there are any other suggestions let me know!

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

Best of Luck. I believe things will work out. My yellow tang initiates any newcomer for 48 hours, then all is well...

Keep us posted...

 

[kleach]

So a week later and the fish are all getting along. Weird, but their behavior even seemed like they were courting each other today. Swimming with each other and turning sideways in their swim. Maybe that is how they show submission, but they were both doing it.

Either way, both are living happily ever after...except I think the flame is picking at my favia so perhaps not too happily ever after

 

[kleach]

Well, I ended up pulling the flame angel from my tank. He started going after the coral and I had to put all my LPS in eggcrate cages.

Whats really sad is that he and the mimic tang were best buds. They ALWAYS swam together and picked at the rocks with one another. Its like they were each others shadow. In fact, the mimic lead the way into the trap and the flame angel followed. I spent a good week and a half trying to catch him. Too bad, now he is in my 29 gallon QT tank.