Fish nipped....should I remove

[billragan]

My 75 gl tank has five fish. Two percula clowns, hippo tang, watchman goby, and six line wrasse. All have been there over a year except the six line, he's been in probably 8 months. Lately the six line nips at the smaller clown fish. His fins are showing it. I know six lines are great fish and mine is very active but I don't like him nipping at the clown. He also doesn't like shrimp....are should I say... he like them allot. So I've decided he must go(well, my wife did)...if I can catch him in my "hillbilly fishtrap" w/kril, a mason jar, and the top of a 2 liter.

If I take out the clown and put him in my back up tank until I catch the wrasse.... then put him back in after I catch the wrasse ...will the fish still pick at him like he's new or will they remember him? I quess I'm trying to decide if I should leave him in, the problem is I don't know how long it will take to catch the wrasse...or if I can catch him?????

 

[jmccown]

If he needs a home I have plenty of room, lol.

 

[firefish2020]

You just never know, sometimes re-arranging a few rocks quells aggression in fish as they think their territory has moved etc. I think it's all just up to the fish. Good luck.

 

[WVfishguy]

This is why I stopped using six-lines for customer tanks. They are just too aggressive for a community tank.

 

[billragan]

WVfishguy I agree, but how do I catch him, short of taking the rock out. A damsel drove me to that once. He is fast and smart. Does anyone have any live small shrimp (bait)? I think thats my best chance.

 

[WVfishguy]

The trap won't work. You ain't that fast.
I don't mean to be a jerk, but I'll give you my standard advice to all aquarists: If you don't want to work at this, then quit aquariums and collect stamps.
Take the rock out, wait until the debris settles, catch the fish.
Go to your LFS and get some fish boxes, put the rocks in them. It makes less of a mess that way.
Place the wrasse in your quarantine tank (which, of course, you've had set up all along) and take it to your LFS. Trade it for a fairy/flasher wrasse (you'll have to pay a little extra.)
I've torn down 55, 75, and 125 gal. tanks. A 75 is a piece of cake.
While your tank is empty, siphon out the crud off the bottom.
Enough talk. Get to work.

Fishguy, A/K/A "The Fish Nazi"