Longnose Hawk vs. live rock

[pjsonnentag]

Just Friday night my LNHF of 6 months was eating great, coming to the front of the tank and hopping about. Saturday after class, I came home to a beat up fish, with tattered tail and pec fins and lateral abrasions. He wouldn't move from a low hidden perch (very unusual) for feeding. His tank mates (two small clowns) have never given him any trouble.

Water tested fine, nothing new has been added in months- and besides, everything else in the tank was as healthy as ever. I did, however, find a small rock of zoos that had been knocked out of the hole it was wedged in, which has never happened. The hole it was in had an entrance at the front of a rock and an exit at the top in which the frag peg was stuck.

The only thing I can imagine happening is the fish getting into that hole and panicking, pushing the frag out and injuring itself in the process. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to recover from the injuries. A few hours after I found him in that state, I lost him.

It's frustrating to loose a healthy fish because of behavior. Has anyone ever had this happen?:sad1:

Has anyone ever had a fish do something like this?

 

[snorvich]

What species of clownfish? How old are they? What inverts in the tank?

 

[SushiGirl]

What species of clownfish? How old are they? What inverts in the tank?

And what size is the tank?

 

[Daniel Reef]

Was he in the 90g tank that you were just building?

 

[pjsonnentag]

Nope, not in the 90g yet. That's still cycling.

The clowns are false percs and the tank is 36g. Inverts include a large torch, a candy cane, xenia, kenya trees, a few types of zoanthids and a mushroom or two. Nothing extraordinary- not till the 90 is ready!

Haven't had any issues with fish or invert compatibility before. This was just weird.

 

[snorvich]

If the clownfish are sexually mature (and therefore bonded), they could cause the problem.

 

[pjsonnentag]

The clowns are still quite small, maybe half grown. Even if they are paired, I have never observed even the smallest bit of aggression toward the hawk. They just chase eachother around once in a while. Typical clown antics. In fact, when the hawk was in rough shape and sitting out in his usual place, the clowns ignored him. I know clowns can be bullies, but I don't think that was the case here. I suppose it's not impossible though. The moved piece of zoanthid rock is the smoking gun for me. Hmmm, well too late now. Thanks for the responses! RC is always the best place to get the answers!