There's a bully in my tank....

[hanktrank]

I was wondering if I could get some advice on something. I had a starry blenny in my tank for about 3 weeks now. It got along with all his tank mates which included a pair of clown fish, cleaner wrasse, biagi cardinal.

So I added a blue dot goby the other night and the next morning I see that the blenny is chasing the new goby around like crazy, not giving him a second to rest. The goby hasn't really been able to eat because of this.

Does anyone know if this will eventually calm down or is this going to be an ongoing issue. In which case I guess I have to get rid of one of them cause the goby won't make it very long in the tank.

Thanks for any help!

 

[billsreef]

Likely to be an ongoing issue unless it is a large tank. Basically the goby and blenny compete for the same ecological niche, so don't want to tolerate each other.

 

[hanktrank]

Likely to be an ongoing issue unless it is a large tank. Basically the goby and blenny compete for the same ecological niche, so don't want to tolerate each other.

Hi Bill,

i have a 70 gallon tank with about 60lbs of live rock......you think that is big enough for the two of them?

 

[billsreef]

That's right around what I consider the coin toss size. Fair chance they can come to an understanding of living in opposite corners, but an equal chance of not.

 

[hanktrank]

That's right around what I consider the coin toss size. Fair chance they can come to an understanding of living in opposite corners, but an equal chance of not.

Thanks for the info....hope they will come to some understanding soon

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Starry blennies can be very territorial and aggressive. Hopefully the goby can avoid it long enough for it to calm down.

 

[daplatapus]

My Starry wouldn't leave my Yellow watchman alone either in a 80 gal. I ended up starting a 20 gal cube just for the yellow watchman

 

[Psyops]

My Starry wouldn't leave my Yellow watchman alone either in a 80 gal. I ended up starting a 20 gal cube just for the yellow watchman

And this is the reason we all have eight tanks around the house that drives our spouses crazy. "Sorry honey I could not get rid of that fish, because if I take it to the LFS then some idiot would buy it and get it killed!"

Sorry I was in a weird mood when I read your post.

Alex

 

[billsreef]

And this is the reason we all have eight tanks around the house that drives our spouses crazy. "Sorry honey I could not get rid of that fish, because if I take it to the LFS then some idiot would buy it and get it killed!"

Sorry I was in a weird mood when I read your post.

Alex

Sometimes multiple small to medium tanks are better than one huge one

 

[dppitone]

It sounds like this is giving you as much stress as it's giving the goby. Don't feel bad if you decide to remove one of them. Or you could add a few more gobies, sometimes that solves that problem.

 

[daplatapus]

And this is the reason we all have eight tanks around the house that drives our spouses crazy. "Sorry honey I could not get rid of that fish, because if I take it to the LFS then some idiot would buy it and get it killed!"

Sorry I was in a weird mood when I read your post.

Alex

LOL, no apologies needed. Actually my wife wasn't all that supportive of my hobby until she felt sorry for that little guy. The extra tank was her idea. And who am I to deny her of her own tank?

 

[HumbleFish]

And this is the reason we all have eight tanks around the house that drives our spouses crazy. "Sorry honey I could not get rid of that fish, because if I take it to the LFS then some idiot would buy it and get it killed!"

Sorry I was in a weird mood when I read your post.

Alex

You said it.

"Honey, I think one of those tangs has got to go."

"But you can't get rid of Princess Buttercup!"

"Then I need to upgrade or setup another tank."

"Are you friggin kidding me?"

 

[Spyderturbo007]

Apparently I'm the lucky one. I was watching TV a couple weeks ago when my wife turned to me and said "The fish children need a bigger house". I just about fell off the couch.

Too bad my living room doesn't have the space for the size tank I want to buy next. I guess I'll have to wait a few years until we buy a new house and then get the tank.

 

[Fish Biscuit]

Where do I find you guys with 8 tanks? I also think a Gem tang is an acceptable engagement ring

 

[billsreef]

Where do I find you guys with 8 tanks? I also think a Gem tang is an acceptable engagement ring

Reef Central

 

[SUMIXAM]

Where do I find you guys with 8 tanks? I also think a Gem tang is an acceptable engagement ring

HAHA!! That is awesome!!

 

[jgarner]

I had a starry that killed a jawfish, a clown and put another clown in a rehab facility (qt tank) before I even realized what was going on... He now has his own tank in a new home at a relatives house. I thought he was so cool because he came out of the water to eat out of your hands, but now I know it's because he was a fearless bully.

 

[Psyops]

I think I started an interesting conversation guys. I used to tell my LFS guy that I am always one tank short of a divorce. That number seems to be climbing over the years. I am wearing down my wife. Guess what guys, my wife and I just adopted a baby boy. I am going to use this kid as ammo for more tanks.

"But honey Anthony really likes a tank in his own room." He said it the other day. Make sure you take the kid to McDonalds or something earlier in the day and have him advocate for you.

Alex