Unpopular Chalk Bass

[85galsalty]

My chalk bass has been a resident in the tank for a couple of years and he isn't liked by my bangaii cardinal, clown or 6 line wrasse. They don't chase him to much or beat him up they just make sure he stays out of their way.
My foxface and kole tang tolerate the bass and they also like to eat the bass' poo???
I pride myself in having a peaceful tank and I cant figure out why they don't like the bass, it just bothers me that when they are near him they get aggressive. I haven't found much about the chalks behaviors so any thoughts or experience with a chalk bass would give me some peace of mind.

 

[Recty]

Fish get aggressive for a couple reasons, I think the most common is because they see the other fish as being a threat to their food source. How often do you feed the fish? If you don't feed a lot, you might try upping the feeding amounts per day and see if the aggression subsides.

 

[85galsalty]

My fish look fat and they dont appear under fed, I could feed them more I suppose but you know what happens when food intake goes up.

 

[Recty]

Yep, food output goes up too, as does nutrients in the water.

It's hard to say why fish are aggressive but it almost has something to do with food, whether it's lack of food or protection of the spot they perceive the food to be coming from.

 

[85galsalty]

chalk bass don't appear to be a popular fish, I don't seem them very often in stores. Is there a reason these fish aren't popular? He is a very good fish and its sad to see him get bullied.

 

[chimmike]

well, the tang and foxface, imo, aren't best suited in an 85g. The 6 line wrasse is or will become aggressive, and it's likely the percula is aggressive too. For a shy fish, it's not good.

 

[85galsalty]

well, the tang and foxface, imo, aren't best suited in an 85g. The 6 line wrasse is or will become aggressive, and it's likely the percula is aggressive too. For a shy fish, it's not good.

The tang is a new addition and my wrasse went crazy on him. Took me 5 hrs to catch the wrasse and put him in time out (the sump). I had no idea that he would be so aggressive . There is more then enough food, rocks and aqua-scape. I'm glad the kole tang was as healthy as he was to take that beating from him. The wrasse never bothered any other additions so I thought he was the "exception". Lesson learned.

 

[cjdevito]

chalk bass don't appear to be a popular fish, I don't seem them very often in stores. Is there a reason these fish aren't popular?

I consider them one of the most underappreciated fish in the hobby. Colorful, reef safe to everything except tiny shrimp and possibly very tiny fish, hardy, easy to feed, small (max out around 3"), not very expensive, hermaphroditic (so odds of successful breeding go way up) and they get along fine if you keep a group together.

They tend to be only available seasonally, though, and sometimes can be surprisingly difficult to get.

 

[joejoe1055]

i love my chalk bass

 

[85galsalty]

I consider them one of the most underappreciated fish in the hobby. Colorful, reef safe to everything except tiny shrimp and possibly very tiny fish, hardy, easy to feed, small (max out around 3"), not very expensive, hermaphroditic (so odds of successful breeding go way up) and they get along fine if you keep a group together.

They tend to be only available seasonally, though, and sometimes can be surprisingly difficult to get.

How many have you had at one time? Do they school ? I really like my chalk bass too. I just started to convince myself there may be something wrong with having them since they're not very common.

 

[85galsalty]

:beer:

i love my chalk bass

 

[cjdevito]

How many have you had at one time? Do they school ? I really like my chalk bass too. I just started to convince myself there may be something wrong with having them since they're not very common.

Last time I had any was around 99 or 2000 or thereabouts. I think I had four of them in a 60 gallon tank with a pair of banggais and some green chromis. They don't really school, but they don't mind hanging out in the same area as each other.

 

[85galsalty]

My foxface and kole tang tolerate the bass and they also like to eat the bass' poo???.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[joejoe1055]

got my bass from LA