Introducing a new chock bass to reef via critter cage

[ampemployee1]

The last time I introduced a new addition to the system, the largest of my lyretail anthias pestered the guy to death. LFS recommended introducing via a critter cage. How long would you keep him in the the cc before letting him into the general community?

Thanks, Ed

 

[rssjsb]

I have to say I'm less enamored of the acclimation box than some other posters. I think it helps the new addition to calm down and get visually acclimated to its new environment, (i.e., seeing what else is in the tank and possibly identify bolt holes). It probably allows the new fish's scent to normalize in the water column and seem less alarming to the existing inhabitants.

But while it might buy the new guy a little time, I'm skeptical that it will otherwise keep a bully from bothering a new addition long term.

Chalk bass are wimps. Lyretails are bullies, and bullies gonna bully.

 

[ca1ore]

I'd put myself in the pro-acclimation/socialization box camp, but it can be of varying effectiveness. I've had it work really well. A couple of days in the box, some initial aggression, and then a relatively calm release. I've also had it be useless. Resident fish ignore the new fish in the box and beat the crap out of it when released. Frankly, the most important step in introducing a new fish is to not introduce it ..... Huh? You should QT it first. For disease certainly, but also as a way to get the new fish comfortable, feeding and fattened up. With a fish like a Chalk bass, that will hide for a while initially, it needs those reserves to survive the acclimation.

I recently added a trio to my pretty aggressive tank. Figuring that they would just bolt for the rocks I didn't bother with the box, but I had them in QT for 10 weeks (started with four; three made it through) and fed them multiple times a day. Put them into the display and never saw them again for three weeks. Week four spotted one, then another, and by week five all three were out and eating. A fish that is underfed, or not completely healthy, will not survive this.

 

[rssjsb]

I'd put myself in the pro-acclimation/socialization box camp, but it can be of varying effectiveness. I've had it work really well. A couple of days in the box, some initial aggression, and then a relatively calm release. I've also had it be useless. Resident fish ignore the new fish in the box and beat the crap out of it when released. Frankly, the most important step in introducing a new fish is to not introduce it ..... Huh? You should QT it first. For disease certainly, but also as a way to get the new fish comfortable, feeding and fattened up. With a fish like a Chalk bass, that will hide for a while initially, it needs those reserves to survive the acclimation.

I recently added a trio to my pretty aggressive tank. Figuring that they would just bolt for the rocks I didn't bother with the box, but I had them in QT for 10 weeks (started with four; three made it through) and fed them multiple times a day. Put them into the display and never saw them again for three weeks. Week four spotted one, then another, and by week five all three were out and eating. A fish that is underfed, or not completely healthy, will not survive this.

All great points. We're actually in complete agreement.

I'm not really anti, just, meh. I've used the box on many occasions, I've just never be sure it mattered for aggressive fish, but maybe it would have been worse without it. I've never seen it do any harm, though, so I will still do it where it seems appropriate.

 

[ampemployee1]

Chalk bass is fattening up

Chalk bass is fattening up

I'll go on feeding the little guy (1.5") cyclopeeze until he's obese, then I'll release him so he can survive the initial bullying. I agree, bullies will bully. Its inevitable. Does your chalk bass eat pellets too?

 

[ca1ore]

My chalk bass do eat pellets, yes.