I have a potter's angel that has been in the tank for a couple months now. Today I noticed him nip my foxface 5 times on his side. The foxface has been in the tank for almost a year and has been doing great. I haven't noticed him acting strangely lately and he eats anything I put in the tank (even after the potter's picked on him). One of my wrasses died last night, and the night before last I saw the potter's pick at him a couple times. I really don't know what to do and am extremely worried about my foxface. Is the foxface ok? What should I do? Thanks in advance for any help.
Potter's Angel picking on foxface
- Thread starter Xaiv
- Start date
Aquarist007
New member
Is the agression leaving any marks or open leisons---tearing fins ect
Is the foxface still coming to the dinner table with everyone and swimming with the pack
If so I could be the just a small warning shot by the angel which the foxface isn't really taking to heart.
Is the foxface still coming to the dinner table with everyone and swimming with the pack
If so I could be the just a small warning shot by the angel which the foxface isn't really taking to heart.
There are no marks or open leisons that I can see. I fed them a little bit of flake food which is the foxface's favorite and he (as well as all the others) came running. I specifically watched to see if the foxface ate anything and he did. I saw the angel nip at him again a little later. The foxface just flared up and the angel went about his business. I'm wondering if I should get the net out and chase the angel with it if he decides to do it again to sort of "discipline" him.
Aquarist007
New member
IMO leave them alone and let them settle it --its just mild toleration of each other. If you take one out then the issue will not go away
Fish can't reason that the net is punishment for doing something instinctively but you sure can stress them out with it and the other fish. Plus when it goes to try and catch one its almost impossible to use a net when you have to:eek2:
Those barbs are poisoness and the foxface although not aggressive know how to use them instinctively too
Thanks so much for the advice! It must be a pecking order thing because now I have a chromis picking on my tang. I did add a new fish in last night. Nothing is bothering the new fish but all the old ones are fighting amongst each other. Hopefully this will all stop today. What should I do if it continues tomorrow? Do you think I should turn the lights off for the rest of the day today? Thanks again for the help!
Aquarist007
New member
You will find with every new fish you add to the reef there is like a power struggle or a buzz going on for a few days. They just sense a little uneasiness and all become agitated a touch but then settle back down again.
When you think about it your tank becomes a very routine environment for them and usually nothing happens different to it like on the real reef.
A new guy on the reef is enough to bring out the beer and potato salad
LargeAngels
Premium Member
Are you sure he is just not performing a cleaning service? I have observed many of my dwarfs acting as cleaners to other fish. I've even seen my small potters cleaning my venustus.
LargeAngels
Premium Member
Most fish stop and flare their body when they are getting cleaned or want to get cleaned. If it doesn't seem to bother the foxface then I wouldn't worry about it.
Well, the foxface has never liked to be cleaned really. I have a cleaner shrimp and he never goes by the cleaning station. But, when the angel attacked him, he flared up and sat there. He turned brown to camo, but maybe he was ok with it. I never really thought that a fish not designated to clean (like a cleaner wrasse) would clean another fish. I was under the impression that if a fish attacked another fish, it wasn't good. Thanks for the info!
LargeAngels
Premium Member
Sounds like he likes being cleaned by the potters.
