Tips on how to stop a bully fish

[crobattt]

Well, i thought it would be a good idea to start a topic on how to deal with bully fish, Im sure most of us here has had that one fish who always trys to destroy new-comers to the tank. So we can all post one way to stop it.

1st tip

If you're dealing with a bully fish and he just will not stop attacking new comers, put a mirror on the opposite side of the tank as the new creature, the bull will attack the glass and will cut the harassment of the other fish greatly.


Any others?

 

[insomniac2k2]

I smack my trigger around with my feed stick

Something tells me, this is not the normal...

 

[sanchoy]

remove the bully
re-introduce later... after new aquascape.

if that dont work remove the weaker fish/ or bully

 

[snorvich]

remove the bully
re-introduce later... after new aquascape.

if that dont work remove the weaker fish/ or bully

I take out the bully. It will only, in my experience, get worse.

 

[evo@32psi]

Def just get him out. Everything else i have tried was just a delay to what was going to happen in the end.

 

[cougaran]

When i use to do FW cichlids i sometimes would have to put one in "prison". I had an old clear plastic container with a top that holes in it, it was used originally a hatchery for baby fish. I would put the bad guy in prison for a week or so and allow the new kid on the block time to get use to the tank. I've used it with damsels before with some sucess..Larger fishes would be much more difficult, but an eggcrate screen dividing a small section of the tank may also work.

 

[mm949]

a time out in a bucket for a few hours and/or trim some of the back tail off...

 

[NyReefNoob]

the mirror on the end of the tank works alot of the time, also pulling the bully out for a few days and let the new comer get comfortable sometimes works, other then just getting rid of the bully there is no 100% way to stop it

 

[OodleyBoodely]

There's always a cure for bullyfish! One of my favorites; hook 'im out, roll in cornmeal, fry, enjoy! LOL!

 

[OodleyBoodely]

OK, don't flame me, I was just teasing!:frog: I'm no vegan, but, I'd never eat anybodies pet, especially my own! :fun5::spin1::debi:

 

[MrTuskfish]

There are several temporary fixes that may work sometimes. but, you can't change the genetic make-up of a fish. IMO, most fish referred to as 'bullies" are just acting normally and if its a problem, not enough research was done before the fish was purchased.

 

[Gill_bucket]

There are several temporary fixes that may work sometimes. but, you can't change the genetic make-up of a fish. IMO, most fish referred to as 'bullies" are just acting normally and if its a problem, not enough research was done before the fish was purchased.

I don't know, I have a blue tang (regal) and he/she is just mean. I feel like my tank is of adequate size (125). I have seen this tang draw blood on my clown (false perc) which was on the tank prior to the tang. I'm sure some people buy a sohal tang, put it in a 55 and go "why is he so mean?" but I think some fish are just more aggressive than others.

 

[Gill_bucket]

I didn't want to give up my bully fish (blue tang) so all the fish I have added since then have been aggressive. I now have several damsels, squirrel fish, mystery wrasse and of course my beloved Dory. LOL

 

[jmadden]

Does your regal tang get enough food? I know sometimes with tangs if they don't get enough to eat they may become aggressive towards their tank mates, because they see them as competitors for food, IMO. Especially with most tangs, because they need to eat more often due to their herbevior diet. Less food for each fish makes for more competition. Just a thought. I hope your regal stops being so high strung and can become more tolerant of his roommates.

 

[Gill_bucket]

Does your regal tang get enough food? I know sometimes with tangs if they don't get enough to eat they may become aggressive towards their tank mates, because they see them as competitors for food, IMO. Especially with most tangs, because they need to eat more often due to their herbevior diet. Less food for each fish makes for more competition. Just a thought. I hope your regal stops being so high strung and can become more tolerant of his roommates.

Could be, she won't eat nori. I did have a kole tang who recently died and they were the best of friends, so guess he/she doesn't hate all fish. I tried to add a Matta tang (LFS failed to inform me they get 20+ inches) and I had to remove it because the blue was sooooo mean. I guess the Matta can be explained away because they have the same body shape, but she seems to hate all the fish I currently have.

 

[Gill_bucket]

Here is an old pic, bully's suck.

Here is the bully himself, looks well fed to me?

 

[klepto]

I don't know, I have a blue tang (regal) and he/she is just mean. I feel like my tank is of adequate size (125). I have seen this tang draw blood on my clown (false perc) which was on the tank prior to the tang... I think some fish are just more aggressive than others.

Depending on your aquascape and total water volume, 125 gallons for a Blue tang (P. hepatus) may not be adequate. Liveaquaria recommends 180 gallons as a minimum tank volume for this species.

I'm not trying to say that your tang isn't aggressive, just that you may want to start researching your purchases rather than going by what your LFS recommends. Get over the whole "dory" fascination and think about what is best for the animal.

The same fish in an undersized tank can and will behave completely differently in a more appropriate environment.

 

[Yurivd]

A cave for every fish to hide in also helps with a bully fish

 

[Gill_bucket]

Depending on your aquascape and total water volume, 125 gallons for a Blue tang (P. hepatus) may not be adequate. Liveaquaria recommends 180 gallons as a minimum tank volume for this species.

I'm not trying to say that your tang isn't aggressive, just that you may want to start researching your purchases rather than going by what your LFS recommends. Get over the whole "dory" fascination and think about what is best for the animal.

The same fish in an undersized tank can and will behave completely differently in a more appropriate environment.

LiveAquaria huh? That seems like an odd place to do research. Oh well, Scott w. Michael says 100 gallons or more.

 

[klepto]

LiveAquaria huh? That seems like an odd place to do research.

Its far better than blindly buying fish because a retailer says it will "be fine in your tank".