Social Acclimation Procedure

[Amoore311]

I'm having trouble with my Copperband Butterfly I'm trying to socially acclimate to my tank today.



I have a critter keeper that I float in the tank for this process.

While the copperband is in the critter keeper, floating in my reef, my Yellow and Powder Blue completely ignore him. As soon as I let him out, they chase him around and force him to the top of the tank.


I have a 6' 180 Gallon tank, and I have never really had to socially acclimate a fish before. My tangs have always accepted new additions right away.


What should I do for my best shot at success? How long can I keep this copperband just hanging around in the critter keeper that's floating in my reef.

 

[Rebel]

Read the primer.

Most people note that yellow tangs and CBBs are a bad mix, usually for the CBB. And it is recommended that the CBB be the first fish, certainly not the last. And a PBT can be aggressive all around, so you have your work cut out, even in a 180.

If nothing else works, and you can manage it, rearrange your rocks. People always recommend that so the fish have to reestablish territory and it puts them all on the same uneasy footing. I have never done it, though.

They are a beautiful fish, and I love mine even though he nips LPS, but they aren't for every tank, IMO.

 

[Amoore311]

I just sold him. Was much more trouble than what he was worth with my fish. If the aggression was just coming from the Powder Blue it wouldn't have been a big deal. But with the Yellow being aggressive towards him as well, the fish had no where to relax in the tank at all.

Local guy with a 120 came to pick him up so he will be in a nice tank later on tonight.

As far as the first fish/last fish goes. I was only getting the fish to take care of aiptasia in the tank. He wasn't anywhere near my original stock list, so being the first fish in the tank impossible lol.

Rearranging the rocks I was considering. But in a 6 FT long tank packed with corals, it wasn't something I was willing to deal with.

I'll try again when I upgrade to an 8 FT Tank in a year or two.