Out For The Kill

[AgentSPS]

The other day I was lucky enough to acquire a Tamarin Wrasse (Anampses Femininus). I placed the fish directly in my 240. Within minutes it seemed every fish from a lone damsel to a 6 line wrasse to my tangs wanted this guy dead! The chase was relentless so I stood watch for a good 30 mins in case it jumped. Sure enough it did and landed on the floor. Needless to say he is now residing safely in my fuge.

I want to reintroduce him to my main tank but don't think it wise to just dump him back in. I suspect the other fish just need to get used to this new fish' presence. Are there any recommendations as to the best way to accomplish this?


<img src=http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20050331233153/www.liveaquaria.com/images/products/bigimage/lg_80607.jpg>

<img src=http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20050331233152/www.liveaquaria.com/images/products/large/p_80607.jpg>

 

[john37]

very nice wrasse, have you gotten it to eat yet?

if all your fish is chasing him you might have a problem. i dont think they're very aggressive and so will continue to get picked on even after you acclimate him.

you might have to change your rockwork around.

btw, where did you get it and how much? you can pm me if you dont want to post. thanks.

 

[Tremelle]

You will probably have to make a choice between it and the 6 line wrasse. I have read that 6 line wrasses don't tolerate other wrasses introduced after it has gotten established. Also try introducing it with the lights off. That may help to let it slip into the tank so the other fish may not see it. Tamarin wrasses are also sandbed dwellers. It will retreat into the sandbed each night.

 

[bigdee65]

You can try and get yourself one of those fish containers used at the LFS and drill some holes in it. Then put the Tamarin in there and let the other fish come up to the container and get used to the fish. I have heard of people leaving fish in there for a few hours before releasing it into the tank.

When I had a FOWLR with aggressive fish I created a larger container using egg crate and would introduce my new fish by putting them in there for about 2 hours before letting them free. This is a great way for the other fish to get used to the new fish without harming it.

If after a few hours your fish are still attacking the container then I think it best to find it a new home.

 

[AgentSPS]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think I am going to try the breeder container in the tank this weekend and see if I can 'desensitize' the other fish before introducing him to the main tank. I will be sure to put a piece of PVC in there so he can hide if he needs to.

Will keep you posted. Hopefully I can get some pics posted too.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

If your fuge is big enough I would probably leave him in there until he is fully acclimated to the system and feeding well, the inability to get this species feeding is the number one problem in keeping them. Tremelle may be right with the six line being your first problem in getting the tamarin to be accepted. I have seen aquarists use egg crate to divide the tank in order to allow fish to get used to each other presence without the ability to get at the other fish.

 

[clord]

When I added my firefish every fish in the tank attacked it but 3 days later when he came out everyone warmed up to it.. DOes he have a place he can hide to get away from the other fish?

 

[PuffersKick]

Forget adding another wrasse if you have a 6 line already. I tried to add a Scott's fairy wrasse that was 4 times bigger than my 6 line, and my 6 line still killed it.

 

[Vili_Shark]

Hello Agent,
If I were you I'd go like this:
1.Place a trap and get the 6 lines to the fuge.

2.Place the Femininus in a big net in the main display where all the fish can see it, but cant touch it, make sure the net is covered so he wont be able to jump.

3.intro many kinds of food to this net , I have a big enough net so I can place pcs of live rocks with pods from my fuge.
I can even place a sand bed if I want to.

4.Let the fish be there for a week and then into him to the main display.

If you think your damsel is bad enough , so trap it as well and place in the fuge with the 6 lines.
I'd give them at least a month in the fuge before attemting to put them back in the main display.

 

[AgentSPS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7784055#post7784055 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kahuna Tuna
If your fuge is big enough I would probably leave him in there until he is fully acclimated to the system and feeding well, the inability to get this species feeding is the number one problem in keeping them. Tremelle may be right with the six line being your first problem in getting the tamarin to be accepted. I have seen aquarists use egg crate to divide the tank in order to allow fish to get used to each other presence without the ability to get at the other fish.

While it is eating now I am not sure it is at a level that is sustainable long term. The issue might be made worse if the other fish are too aggressive during feedings. I will be sure to make sure he is eating very well before introducing to the main tank.
The other side of the coin, which I struggle with, is that my main tank has a ton of live rock for it to find food. The fuge it is in now is small (5" wide by 24" long) with sandbed. I feel the natural environment of the tank would be healthier for it.

I think, however, the first step is to use some sort of net or breeder container to acclimate it to the other fish. Egg crate will not do with the structure of my live rock.

 

[thor32766]

another huge thing that might help you out is introducing him at night. i always introduce my fish like this.

 

[AgentSPS]

Hello all-

Thanks again for all your feedback. Just an update... I have placed him in the q-tank in the garage for the past few days. He is still eating fairly well. I noticed some very small ghost shrimp in there the other day and I think he has been feasting because the number are down and he is fat. Just placed him in a breeder container and introduced to the main tank. The other fish seem oblivious to him right now. May rubberband the lid on it later and try sinking the breeder container to the bottom. I need to be absolutely sure they are 'okay' with him before introducing. Will be sure to introduce at night under moonlight.



For those who asked for photos of the tamarin...

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/11741402/170763529.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/11741402/170763523.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/11741402/170763515.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/11741402/170763509.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/11741402/170763504.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/11741402/170763495.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/11741402/170763489.jpg>

 

[emperior911]

Nice fish, where did you buy it? how much? i'm guessing liveaquaria?

 

[john37]

hey, weren't you the one w/the huge moorish idols in your tank?
how are they doing?

 

[Vili_Shark]

BEAUTY!
Agent, if you plan to keep the fish in a container for longer than a few days I'd do it in the large plastic nets that I mentioned earlier.

You'll have problems feeding the fish, in case you'll sink the container.

 

[AgentSPS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7807795#post7807795 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
hey, weren't you the one w/the huge moorish idols in your tank?
how are they doing?

Yes I did have two huge idols for a while but one day while on vacation they got hungry and decided coral was on the menu. After mowing down a bunch of my SPS I had to give them up. They now reside in a 500 gal tank.

 

[AgentSPS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7808185#post7808185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vili_Shark
BEAUTY!
Agent, if you plan to keep the fish in a container for longer than a few days I'd do it in the large plastic nets that I mentioned earlier.

You'll have problems feeding the fish, in case you'll sink the container.

Hi Vili-

I had him in the breeder sunk at the bottom of the tank for about 6 hours yesterday. None of the fish bothered to go near the breeder. I am not sure if they were afraid of the breeder itself or just not interested in the new fish but the plan is to do it one more time for an entire day this week and then introduce him to the main tank in the evening. I figure at some point I need to pull the trigger. As an added measure I have also purchased a foxface to introduce at the same time. Hopefully the intro of multiple fish at once will throw off the balance of power in the tank enough so that everyone is chill.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Good luck, I hope it works out well. That sure is a beautiful fish!