Possum Wrasse & Candy Cane Hogfish

[jalisco]

Hi Guys,

I had an inch and five eights Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse in QT and ordered a Candy Cane Hogfish that was supposed to be two and a quarter inches but arrived a little over three inches.

The two were together in the QT for over two weeks and there was no viewed aggression. I did have to over feed so the wrasse could get a few bites. I was feeding mysis, brine and pellets. I was worried the wrasse wasn't getting enough food but it always seemed to carry good weight.

The QT has a mature sponge filter, chunk of live rock (will remove to medicate if needed) and a surf II ATS that has yet to get going. Due to over feeding in the hopes of more than a bite or two making it to the wrasse I was having to do multiple 20% water changes a week along with at least one 50%.
Because the wrasse still looked to have good weight I cut back on feeding hoping to reduce the number of water changes.

Last night the wrasse was in perfect fin but this morning it was dead with a lot of fin missing from the tail and false eyes.

Now I'm trying to figure out if I starved my wrasse to death and the hogfish nipped fins post mortem or if I starved the hogfish to the point it killed the wrasse.

I was hoping to stock all young fish in the 1.5 - 2" range with adult lengths of 3 - 4". My stocking list was to be:
Dracula Goby with randalli
Yasha Goby with randalli
Helfrichi
Possum Wrasse (yellow or white banded)
Ocellaris Pair
And last but not least a candy cane hogfish

At this time all I have is the candy cane. At over three inches, is he just too big to house with 1.5" passive feeders? Is it just common knowledge not to put larger fast feeding fish with smaller shy fish?

Depending on your guys' advice I think I need to sell the hog. All advice will be appreciated.

 

[jalisco]

Would you guys have a hogfish with that stock list? Even if I sell the >3" hogfish and get a 2.5ish one would I still always struggle to get food to the other tank mates?
I really like the fish but it is a bit of a nano barracuda.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I had a candy cane hogfish and it made my already reclusive swissguard basslet even more timid. The hogfish had to be re-homed for that reason. I still think it's a good fish for those with smaller tanks who don't have enough room for a yellow tang to add some yellow color.

 

[jalisco]

Was yours Bodianus bimaculatus or a Bodianus sepiacaudus like mine?

 

[scooter31707]

The candy cane can be aggressive with fish equal/smaller in size or similar appearances (i.e. wrasses). I currently have one along with a Melanarus Wrasse, no true aggression, but they do flare their fins up when they pass by each other. They are jumpers, so be careful. I would put in all your wrasses first, then the Candy Cane.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Was yours Bodianus bimaculatus or a Bodianus sepiacaudus like mine?

mine was a two spot hogfish. I got the two mixed up because it's also called yellow candy hogfish

 

[jalisco]

I'm not sure why I didn't put more thought into the name Hogfish but do you noticeably have to add more food so your wrasse can get to it. The hogfish eats everything then throws it up and starts all over.
I just don't want to always be over feeding so the more passive fish don't starve.

 

[scooter31707]

Well in my case my Candy Cane is smaller than the Wrasse, so both hold their own and eats very well. I feed 2x per day as there are other aggressive eaters in the tank along with them.

 

[evolved]

In general, Bodianus = jerk

You don't mention the size of the QT or the DT, but the hogfish may well be the problem here.

 

[snorvich]

In general, Bodianus = jerk

You don't mention the size of the QT or the DT, but the hogfish may well be the problem here.

IMO the hogfish is the problem. Bodianus = jerk

 

[jalisco]

But he's so pretty!
Well if I can get full asking price for him I'm only $450 away from a Liopropoma carmabi which was my second choice. Why couldn't I just have a crack and hooker addiction like a normal person?