scared fish...

SpartaReef

SpartaReef

New member
My flame fin tang is the biggest fish in my tank and asserts himself pretty well. However it has driven my helfrichi firefish into a bolt hole and he almost never has come out. Now yesterday while feeding the tank, I saw him. But he darted back in before he could grab a bite to eat. The other fish in the tank had swam by... I'm worried he might starve. What can I do?
 
How long have you had them both? Firefish are notoriously "scared" fish. They must be in a non aggressive tank. Be prepared...he may continue to do this. You could try to move the rock work around.
 
SpartaReef said:
My flame fin tang is the biggest fish in my tank and asserts himself pretty well. However it has driven my helfrichi firefish into a bolt hole and he almost never has come out. Now yesterday while feeding the tank, I saw him. But he darted back in before he could grab a bite to eat. The other fish in the tank had swam by... I'm worried he might starve. What can I do?
Click to expand...

The firefish is being intimidated. And you are correct that if intimidated, it will starve. Notice which fish intimidates the firefish and remove one of the two.
 
So stupid that I have to manually subscribe to my own thread...

Anyway sorry for the delayed response. I was afraid it would come to having to remove one... I hope that something changes first. The firefish has been in my tank the longest.... The tang is bigger and surprisingly more aggressive than the flame angel it replaced... The firefish and flame angel got along... The tang doesn't really chase anything in the tank, it just doesn't avoid swimming into the other fish... It plays chicken very well. The firefish was out feeding yesterday for a couple minutes before hiding in the rocks, so I'm hoping that it gets "brave" enough to survive. I also think that once I get a cleaner shrimp in the tank the tang will quit trying to get the other fish to clean it... Thus scaring the firefish by swimming up to it...

Steve, you're the resident expert on compatibility... But I believe you've stated before that you don't do inverts... I was wondering about adding blood red fireshrimp to the tank when I have a pair of sexy shrimp.... I was worried the larger shrimp might try to eat the smaller ones...
 
try to take all the fish out into QT... rearrange the rock work.. and then introduce them together. This might help.
 
Well, two problems with that... One is I don't have a qt... The second is that I just moved everything down to the basement.... So this procedure you suggest has already been done.

Thank you for the advice though... It was worth a shot.

If adding a cleaner shrimp will take some pressure off the fish, and make my tang settle down... Then I think the firefish might be able to come out more... If not I'll have to decide which fish to remove....
 
IMO a cleaner will not help the situation to much. I believe you will need to ultimately make a choice as to witch to keep. Just out of curiosity what size tank are we talking about.
 
I am not going to bash anyone on their choices. I was just curious if the tang feels crowded. Seems odd to me the tang would go after the firefish. they are not really similar and hang out in different areas. But each fish has their own personality could just be a bruiser.
 
He went at all the fish initially... Then settled down. Pals around with my chromis. Ignores everyone in the tank except when presenting itself for cleaning.... It just doesn't bother to swim around the other fish.... Swims right through them... Ramming them if they don't move.
 
Certainly sounds like a bruiser. I think I would remove him and if you really like them maybe try another one. LFS may do a straight swap with you.
 
Well, I'm hoping not to have too... Going to see how things go for this week, since it did get out and eat some... It should make it. I want to see if the tang's attitude changes any further.... It has been far less aggressive than when first introduced.
 
The firefish is still hiding, but still eating and still alive (still fat too)...

Should I remove the rock temporarily to see if it learns not to be scared by not being able to hide in its usual whole?
 
I wouldn't. They need hidey-holes to feel secure. As long as he is eating, it's a good thing. He'll eventually come around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Coral beauty Sick - how do i treat
Replies
3
Views
1K
leebca
L
BigEZ77
Urgent Help Requested - Wrasses Won't Come Out - CB Blue Tang Arriving Today (NO QT)
Replies
8
Views
609
rrrrob
rrrrob
BigEZ77
How Many Days To Run UV When Adding A New Fish?
Replies
3
Views
535
leebca
L
T
New 55g setup. Advice for fish appreciated
Replies
6
Views
270
Uncle99
Uncle99
OrionN
Naso elegans, the Blonde Naso
Replies
1
Views
218
OrionN
OrionN
Back
Top