help, my purple tang is killing my open brain!

[DMK]

i have had a huge open brain for a few years which my 2 maroon clowns host in. i started noticing a few days ago the brain was less open, today i saw the PT nipping at it a few times. i have no idea why he has chose to start doing this but it's really annoying me. i don't know if i should place the brain in a specimen container for a few days or what. not sure if he will stop. i also notice my female maroon is now less aggressive and more submissive w/ the PT. every time the PT comes near she hides in nest which is under open brain. the brain is propped up about 1" on some little rocks. what should i do?

 

[DMK]

also this brain is normally huge and puffy, like 7", now small and shrivveled, like 4".

 

[kizkiz]

Which do you want to keep, brain or PT?
Make a decision and either sell or donate the other to an lfs / reefer
Once they start they'll generally keep going till it's dead

 

[porky]

I agree, either the tang or the brain will have to go...
The tang will not leave the coral alone until it dies.
If it were me, I'd be going fishing :fish1:

 

[DMK]

it would be almost impossible to catch the PT without ripping tank apart, which i don't want to do...i have tons of LR and caves. i do love the brain though.

 

[leveldrummer]

i bet he would fall for a trap. do the old coke bottle trick, or get a fish trap for the lfs. bait it with some nori tied to a rock, or with some frozen foods in some nylon, also tied to a rock, just wait, eventually all fish fall for it.

 

[DMK]

i like the PT better still even though i want to give him an uppercutter...

 

[Nizmo350Z]

The Tang needs to go. If it's not the brain, it's going to be something else. Once they start, they won't stop. I had this happened to me 3 times with 3 different Tangs. Yellow, Blue and Purple tang. They seems to like Acans more than the brains I have though. I had to take down my tank to catch the 3 of them, good luck with yours.

I have another yellow tang now and it's fine. I guess I got a few Tangs gone wild back then.

 

[Vamp1975]

You can use a small fish hook with the barb filed off. Super easy, & quick!

 

[DMK]

i'm not getting rid of the tang. i only have 3 other LPS pieces, rest all SPS. the brain has already been taken out.