Help & advice please

R

reeves2k2

New member
hi guys ive been around the forum for a while now but this is my first post

i set up my first sw tank around 3 months ago and today came across my first problem which i hope you nice guys can help

first a bit about my tank

50G imp tank
initially set up as Fowler with scope to go to reef when ready and suitably mature

my livestock up until today was:
2 tank bred perc's
sixline wrasse
numerous snails and cleaner shrimps as cuc
sand sifting star
with 30 kilo LR

THE PROBLEM
today i added a royal gramma to my tank but after a few hours noticed it was a bit banged up with what i think are bite marks on its top fin and tail
its still alive and swimming normally when it comes out of the rocks but im a little worried,
i thought it could be a territorial issue with the sixline so first step i took was to re-arrange all the rockwork in there to try and help

i am after advice as to if this could be the case and if it is i really would like to keep both aninamls is there any advice you can give to sort this out or is it likely to be a fight to the death

with 30kilo of rock there is plenty of hiding room for both animals the percs are not bothered in the slightest and apart from bickering between the 2 clown which resulted in both looking slightly roughed up i have had a fairly smooth ride up until now so help and advice would be appriciated
 
A lot of times with an new fish I never see them the next morning. If you wake up and he's still alive, that's a good sign.
 
It can be hit or miss. Clownfish like to defend there territory, and royal gramma's can be fairly aggressive. They should be fine together, once they establish their respective territory. But you should find out in a day or two either way.
 
I sometimes find my Royal Gramma with a piece of his tail missing but it grows back withing 3 days. I believe that it's my Maroon clown that's biting him from time to time but the royal gramma holds his ground. He just faces the clown and opens his mouth really wide and they simply swim away from each other. If you see him getting worse I would separate him in a clear container within the same tank and I think they will eventually get used to each other and get along fine. Leave him in there for about 2 or 3 weeks and make sure the container has plenty of holes for flow.
 
right just a bit of an update

fed them this morning and he was still there perched under a rock

he came out to feed but was harrased by the sixline so it went back at the side of the rock where the sixline couldn't get him and kept bobbing in and out for a fill of the food as it passed

so 1st good hing is he is still eating, he does look pretty banged up but his breathing looks fine and otherwise healthy

so i don't think its my clowns, i think its defenately the sixline from what i have observed anytime it does come out and the sixline spots it he harrasses him untill the gramma retreats where the 6line cant get him (or doesnt bother trying) as i am sure he could get him where is his if he wanted to
 
Catch the sixline and put him in a bucket for a few hours.
Move your rockwork around a bit,then reintroduce it.
The sixline is a good candidate for the last fish in the tank because of their aggressive nature.
 
i have re-arranged rockwork

catching a sixline!!

now thats gonna be tough
the gramma is still there and feeding whcih is good im going to watch it over the rest of the day and if things get worse ill have a go at trying to catch him

provided my water quality is kept hign and the 6line calms down abit do u think the gramma would get back fit and well again

as said previously its only fin damage so hopefully it will if it doesnt die of fright
 
its good to no there both tough fish i did no before hand they were bohe quite aggresive fish but i just feel so sorry for it everytime it comes out it gets attacked

im just waiting for it to stand and fight back lol
 
Yeah I hear they are entertaining but I only have a 29g tank with a maroon clown, a royal gramma, and a firefish. Will he also give me problems? How much do they usually go for, $40? I can get a fish for free so I might tell them to get me a six-line instead of another maroon.
 
Leolizards-It may be very difficult to add a maroon into a tank with another maroon. They will usually fight until one dies.

reeves2k2-I would recommend removing the six line, either for a few weeks to a quarantine tank or back to your lfs for credit. I think you are joking by the lol, but your royal gramma will not "stand and fight back". It may likely be harassed until it dies.

Joyce
 
yeah i was joking with the lol im going to see how it goes today and may try the lights off trick atm i dont have a qt tank as the tank i had in mind has a crack in it

lfs i think i may strugle to take back
 
I just put my six line in my 29 gal. with 2 false clowns and a royal gramma. the royal gramma picked on the six line till the lights went out. in the morning all looked well no fighting.after i got home from work the royal grammas right fin was torn guess the six line wins.
 
lol

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11654031#post11654031 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Macimage
Leolizards-It may be very difficult to add a maroon into a tank with another maroon. They will usually fight until one dies.
Joyce
Click to expand...

I guess I'll get the Six-line instead and then later on add another maroon after my LR finishes curing. That way the aquascape will be different. I was reading on the six-line and it says "They are also fine in a community tank but will become aggressive towards shy timid species in the same aquarium, and sometimes even larger fish. To prevent confrontations it is best to keep it with larger or more aggressive fish. Avoid shy fish such as firefish, gobies, grammas, fairy wrasses, flasher wrasses, leopard wrasses, and others. The mandarins may or may not be picked on, but most likely will be. They will also out compete the mandarins and other fish for food." Here's the link.
I planned on getting a Mandarin also when I upgrade to a bigger tank. I'm thinking of going for another wrasse then, maybe a flasher or longfin but I'm not sure yet. I want something that is just as interesting as the six-line
 
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