How long is a fish's memory?

M

Mathfreak71

New member
I am on my last fish for my 75 gallon. I had planned from the start to have both a Potter's and a Flame angel. I had done a lot of reading and adding them at the same time wasn't possible, so I added the Potter's about 7 months ago.

About 2 months ago I got a flame. After a month in QT in went the flame, the reaction was immediate. The Potter's beat the crap out of the flame, non-stop harassment.

I am assuming this is a territorial issue.

So I tried the flame in a clear container for a couple of weeks. When I released him a second time same result. So now I have caught the Potter's and placed him in QT.

So, how long will the Potter's remember his territory? I was thinking I would leave him in QT for about a month. That way the flame will settle in and the Potter's will feel less territorial upon return.

Any thoughts?

By the way, I caught the Potter's in a homemade fish trap. At one point the Potter's was in the trap and the flame was free swimming in the tank. The flame would flash at the trapped Potter's almost like a kid sticking out his tongue on the playground.
 
one thing i might try is just re arranging your rock a bit, so either way thinks he's in new territory?
 
Well, I would be up for rearranging rock. However, the one thing my wife did when I started this tank was the rock work and she is opposed to moving any piece of rock. I have to admit she did a fabulous job. Way better than I could have done. I have over 100 lbs and she made sure there are arches and lots of little holes and caves.
 
Similar colors could be a reason for your problems, I think.
I had my ocellaris clown try to tear a Flame Hawk a new one. Apparently, red means another clownfish invading MY anemone in her little brain.
As for memory, usually out of sight, out of mind.

Matthew
 
I've had to do the same thing with a Purple Tang - put in QT to let a new fish get acclimated. I usually kept the troublemaker out for a few weeks, then put back in the main display and everything worked out ok. I've done this a few times and it's worked everytime.
The problem you may experience is that the roles might be reversed - flame might bully the potters when you put the potters back in the display
 
Is there anyway you can divide your main display with eggcrate for a while so both fish can see each other but not be harmed?
 
I can't divide the tank because of the rock work. A fish can swim from one end to the other behind the rock.

I am really hoping removing the Potter's for awhile will fix the territory issue. I am not really worried about the flame picking on the Potter's. The Potter's is at least twice as large.
 
Mirrors.

Place some mirrors on the tank so that the territorial fish sees it's own reflection and think theres an intruder.

May give the new tank mate some time to settle in.
 
Mathfreak71 said:
Snorvich,

I have read a lot of your posts. Do you believe this is a lost cause or is do you have another suggestion?
Click to expand...

Mirrors, as mentioned above is a possibility. In general, the larger the tank, the greater the probability of species which occupy the same ecological niche coexisting. I cannot say for sure what the likelihood of success is. In my opinion moving the rock work will NOT solve the problem, by the way, as this is not a simple territory issue.
 
i think that if this is going on it is because they want more territory, i think it is a lost cause personally with a small possibility of it changing if you move the rock.
 
I have a 75 with a flame angel in it. I can't see there being enough room for 2 angels in that size tank without there being the reaction that you showed.
 
I have a friend who tried to keep two dwarf angels in a 72 bowfront. They harassed each other constantly--until he found one of them on the living room carpet one morning.

Most Centropyge species seem to have pretty extensive territories (for their size) in the wild. From what I've heard and read, I don't think a medium-sized tank gives them enough space to each establish territory plus a "buffer zone" so they're not constantly invading each other's turf. Angels are active and roam a lot.

Good luck!
 
I did do a considerable amount of research before heading in this direction. I knew that failure was a possibility. I also understand there has been success with medium sized tanks and 2 centropyge angels. Most of which is probably about individual animals. If it doesn't work my 26 gallon hex in my basement that I have been using as my QT will become home to my Potter's. Thanks for the input.
 
...You will probably have to seperate them. The problem here is you have not one, but two aggressive Centropyge ( of similar colors as I said) in the same tank. With one more passive, dissimilar fish, it might work.
But I'm not optimistic with these two species.

Matthew
 
Well, My Potter's went back in today after a month and half in QT. So far so good. There has been no adverse reaction at all. In fact, the Potter's, Hippo, and Flame all swim together at times.
 
Just an update,

It has been over 4 months since the re-intro of the Potter's and so far so good. Apparently the removal of the Potter's for a period of time fixed the problem. The Potter's does occasionally chase the Flame but it is always short lived and not violent.

I understand that at any point they could decide to rip each other apart but I am pleased with my short term success.
 
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