Thoughts on introducing a new fish?

[SoonerFan732]

Anyone have a thought on how to introduce a fish into an established aquarium? I have a Blonde Naso that's been in QT for the better part of 3 months. I have tried to add it two different times to my display aquarium with no luck.

The tank I want to put it in is a 240 gallon with the following fish: Majestic Angel, Picasso Trigger, Coral Beauty, two Clownfish, and a Sohal Tang.

Both times I tried to put it in there the Sohal has gone nuts on the Naso. On neither occasion did I leave the Naso in for more than 30 minutes. The last time resulted in a couple of cuts on the Naso. My only hope is that the Sohal acted similarly when I introduced the Coral Beauty, but after one day he quit messing with it.

I was hoping it wouldn't be this way, but it’s not looking good to keep these two together. I am just wondering if anyone has an introducing technique that might be useful here. If not I will probably end up trading the Naso in for something else.


Thanks!

Kevin

 

[matthewnokc]

hmmm blondes allways starting trouble

hmmm blondes allways starting trouble

Have you tried the nemo method?

place a wide screen tv infront of the aquarium

let the fish watch finding nemo 6 or 7 times

then try reintroducing the fish..
.......................

I think its like the nerd in highschool or the

person that you cant stand at work...

nothing will make it better other than getting them fired.

maybe their fighting over the blonde!

lots of fights get started over blondes

trade the blonde in!

 

[_Sooner_2]

I would trade the Naso for something else. Sohals are just plain mean. If the Naso were the established fish, you would have better odds. Some recommend rearrainging your rock structure, I don't know if this works or not.

I had the same experience trying to add a Naso to a tank with a Sohal already in it. It didn't work out.

Ronnie

 

[corwise]

A LFS in Idaho told me this trick, I'm not 100% sure it'd work, but maybe someone can educate me. The owner of a shop had a PHD in marine biology, and seemed to know a lot, so it might be worth a shot.
Anyway, he said that one of the best ways to introduce new Tangs was to put the new one in some sort of fish trap, or some plastic container which let an exchange of water from the trap to the tank. Leave him in there a while (I think he said a day or two), and let his "scent" travel through the tank. At first the other fish will hang around the trap wanting to attack him, but after a few days they'll get used to him being there. Once that happens, you can let him lose and everything should be ok.
This was how he put new Tangs in his 600 gal dispaly tank, and it worked for him. *shrug* But I'll once again caution that this is just something I've heard, never actually tried.

 

[JimmyS]

That technique worked for me when I introduced my male maroon clown. No problems what so ever, but then again it wasnt tangs.

 

[SoonerFan732]

Ronnie,
I rearranged the rocks the last time I tried to introduce the Naso with no luck I have had success with that before introducing other fish, but not this time.

Corwise & Jimmy,
I think I will go with the technique you two mentioned. The second time I tried to introduce the Naso to the tank I actually had him in a fish trap, but I only left him in the trap about 40 minutes. I think I might build a larger isolation trap and keep him in it for a couple of weeks. I read something like that with a guy who keeps large angelfish in the same tank with good success using that method. In my little fish trap the Naso was going nuts and I was afraid it was doing more harm than good.

I appreciate everyone's input, thanks!

Kevin

 

[aaparkr]

I have tried to introduce a Pearl Scale into my 75 (actually, I have lost 3) because I have a 9 year old maroon clown who will not let them eat. They get harrassed any time they are out in front of the rocks. How big of a container would you suggest for a 75 gallon tank?

I have some pictures on my page (the little red house) you have to look for them a little though.

Tony

 

[pwhitby]

The problem is the Sohal. Always described as the last fish to be added unless very small.

I hope you manage to get it done but Im reasonably sure the sohal will harrass the naso (which is a really peaceful tang).

If you can...........catch the Sohal. Add the Naso. Keep the sohal in QT for a moth or so and then return it to the main tank.

By then the Naso will be familiar with the tank and know where it can and cant hide should the need arise.

P.

 

[JohnLe712]

Matthew...that's funny man. did you try that technik yourself?

Kevin,
how big is your naso compare to sohal? if they're same size then naso doesnt have a chance. or you can remove sohal for like couples days and rearranged your rock before you put him back.

 

[JohnLe712]

I would do exactly like Paul said. Good luck

 

[SoonerFan732]

Thanks for the tip Paul!

I was going to try and remove the Sohal last time then add the Naso like you suggest Paul, but I couldn't get the Sohal to enter my fish trap. I didn't want to tear down the tank to get him out. I probably have 200-250 lbs of rock in there. Maybe I will try it again.

Any suggestions on get the Sohal into the fish trap? He kept trying to get the food in the trap from the outside. He would never go in it. Maybe I should wait longer? I gave it about 3 or 4 hours last time.

The Sohal is considerably larger. The Naso is about 5" and the Sohal is about 7" and much thicker. The Sohal really gave it to the Naso last time.

Thanks again for all the input. I really hope I can get this to work

 

[cmc0814]

you could always just give the sohal to me!