Tushfish killing ocellaris

[brad]

I tried introducing 2 ocellaris last spring to my 300. Both seemed fine at first, but just disappeared. So this summer, I tried 2 more - same thing, but they ended up in the overflow a few times. They are small and weak swimmers, so I thought that was the problem. I did rescue them and put them back into the main tank several times. Yesterday, I saw 2 very large ocellaris, and thought they'd do well.

Right away, the tuskfish showed an interest. He didn't swallow or kill them (he could have easily) but swam right up to them, and harassed and bullied and chased them. I assumed they went into his hole, so he wanted them out. I was hoping they'd sort things out in the morning.

This morning, I woke up to 1 ocellaris in his mouth. It was still alive, so I put both into my sump. The only thing I can think of is that he sees them as rivals, since they are similar in coloration. If that is the case, I should be able to host other clownfish, right? Has anyone seen anything similar? I know usually putting a great big fish and a small fish in the same tank can end badly, but I have some very small (1/2 inch) damsels that seem ok.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Are you adding the clowns when the lights are on? It might be thinking its food.

 

[addictedreefer]

With aggressive species like tusks I would not recommend the smaller more docile clown species (ocellaris, percula, skunks). IMO, you will have better luck with larger specimens of the larger and more aggressive species (maroons, clarki complex, tomato complex).

 

[OrionN]

All the small fish have to be in the tank ahead of the Harlequin Tusk and the Tusk need to be well fed if you want to keep small fish with him. Also clown fish would do well with the Tusk if the have the protection of an aggressive anemone like a magnifica one of the carpets

 

[OrionN]

Tusks are beautiful fish. They can be keep in a large reef but not strictly reef safe since when they are hungry they will go after snails shrimps and small fish

 

[brad]

Fish were added with the lights on, but I always feed the tusk as much krill as he wants before adding anything to the tank (including my hands). When the tusk grabs food, he darts quickly - he tried to eat a LED that dropped into the tank once. This is not at all what happened.

The tusk is a very powerful fish and I can net clowns without taking out rock. He could have killed them under 5 seconds, but he just kept slowly pestering them for 12 hours, and then got fed up and grabbed one with his teeth. Even then, he didn't kill the one he bit (at least not nearly as fast and brutally as he could)

Small damsels, much smaller than the clowns, are still fine. The only thing I can think of is the similar coloration.

 

[OrionN]

double

 

[OrionN]

Damsels have been in the tank for a long time and also much faster fish. Tusk don't see clownfish as competitors, just food

 

[ca1ore]

Tushfish? What's it doing, sitting on the clowns ..... :lolspin::lolspin::lolspin:

 

[CoralsAddiction]

tushfish? What's it doing, sitting on the clowns ..... :lolspin::lolspin::lolspin: