What is it with tangs and lions?!

[StephLionfish]

They won't leave my lionfish alone!! I've had two different tangs in two different tanks mess with two different Dwarf Lionfish! One of my lionfish ( Dwarf Zebra) got ich because a tang was getting RIGHT next to him and sometimes even pressing up against him. And just now I walked in on a small hippo tang doing the same thing to my Dwarf Fuzzy lion. Sure enough, the dwarf fuzzy now has ich!

The tangs aren't trying to cut the lions with their scalpels..... the tang will get up against ( or even underneath ) a sitting lionfish and turn all pale and the lion will scoot away and the tang just scoots next to the lion again.

Why are the tangs doing this???? I'm surprised by how the lions don't attempt to sting the tangs, the lionfish just lean/ move away.

( I'm so mad I could fry the hippo tang right now. I don't have another QT for the Fuzzy, and I love the lion dearly.)

I can prob. get a video of it if anyone needs it.

 

[DoubleM 10]

They won't leave my lionfish alone!! I've had two different tangs in two different tanks mess with two different Dwarf Lionfish! One of my lionfish ( Dwarf Zebra) got ich because a tang was getting RIGHT next to him and sometimes even pressing up against him. And just now I walked in on a small hippo tang doing the same thing to my Dwarf Fuzzy lion. Sure enough, the dwarf fuzzy now has ich!

The tangs aren't trying to cut the lions with their scalpels..... the tang will get up against ( or even underneath ) a sitting lionfish and turn all pale and the lion will scoot away and the tang just scoots next to the lion again.

Why are the tangs doing this???? I'm surprised by how the lions don't attempt to sting the tangs, the lionfish just lean/ move away.

( I'm so mad I could fry the hippo tang right now. I don't have another QT for the Fuzzy, and I love the lion dearly.)

I can prob. get a video of it if anyone needs it.

Sounds like the tangs don't like new comers. Also I think lions are intimidated by fish who swim better so they will always cower to.a tang.

U need to get both lions out. I would put egg crate as a divider so they don't fight amongst themselves. Then have them go through treatment that way
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[StephLionfish]

Well, both of the lions where well established in the tanks they where in. Then the tangs where added.

I guess I'll have to tear another tank down for another QT, because the dwarf Zebra has already been in QT for a while and I've already started hypo. Also, the QT is only a 20 gal tall.

Just for future reference, where can I get eggcrate?

 

[jjk_reef00]

eggcrate at any hardware store in the lighting department (ask for light diffuser)

Tangs are very rough on other large fish. Unfortunately your lions are no match...

 

[anbosu]

Also, fish don't get ich because another fish is close to them. They get ich because it's in your system. It sounds like the new fish are stressing out the lions and that is why you're having an issue.

 

[Wolverine]

Also, fish don't get ich because another fish is close to them. They get ich because it's in your system. It sounds like the new fish are stressing out the lions and that is why you're having an issue.

Exactly. Proximity won't have anything to do with it.

Another thing to watch out for is the tanks picking at the lionfish. They like to eat soft, wavey things, and lionfish have evolved to look like soft, wavey things.

 

[namxas]

I dunno what type of tangs you have, but I can say that the ONLY time I've seen a lion "go offensive" was with a nasty yellow tang that was added to its tank at a LFS cuz a customer brought it in for being nasty.

The tang would not leave the lion alone, even after repeated "warnings" and the lion finally rammed the tang up against the wall repeatedly until it was dead...good night, thanks for playing.

 

[StephLionfish]

Also, fish don't get ich because another fish is close to them. They get ich because it's in your system. It sounds like the new fish are stressing out the lions and that is why you're having an issue.

I was under the impression the lion got ich because the tang was stressing it out. I don't think you understand....it's one thing for a fish to be close...the tang is getting RIGHT up on the lion. It'd be like say,...someone came up and hugged you, and wouldn't let go and go away, even after you walk away. ( Well, it would irritate me with me being a "no touchy" person.)

The lion inches back and flares and the tang keeps on.

The tang isn't trying to eat the lion's fins.- I can see the tank from three rooms away when it can't see me, so I know what's going on in there.- And, like I said, it isn't using the scalpel on the lion.

I will just tear down one of my 20 gallon tanks, and use it for a QT for the lion. Because I've got the salt low in my other one -hypo-

Ok, just thought of something...you know when a fish is about to scratch on a rock? Like, how the...lets say tang, will sit there for a second-frilling the fins- before it scratches? That's kind of what it looks like. Only, the tangs isnt trying to scratch.

 

[jarrod13]

I dunno what type of tangs you have, but I can say that the ONLY time I've seen a lion "go offensive" was with a nasty yellow tang that was added to its tank at a LFS cuz a customer brought it in for being nasty.

The tang would not leave the lion alone, even after repeated "warnings" and the lion finally rammed the tang up against the wall repeatedly until it was dead...good night, thanks for playing.

Wow cool story, I've never heard of a lion actually defending itself to that extent.

Steph, I'll never keep a tang, or any "grazer" with any of my scorps or lions ever again. I had a sailfin and an Atlantic blue pick my rhinopias and inimicus to death within a day or two. I know it's not the same situation as yours but I'm just saying be weary

 

[namxas]

The lion in question was a full-grown volitans, and it DID warn the tang, but the tang insisted on pestering it.

Our male blotched anthias decided it wanted to be the BMOC when we put them with some smaller scorps and lions, and it swam up and postured at the adult male fuzzy but the fuzzy just showed the anthias its "daggers" and that was that...no more aggression.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I was under the impression the lion got ich because the tang was stressing it out. I don't think you understand....it's one thing for a fish to be close...the tang is getting RIGHT up on the lion. It'd be like say,...someone came up and hugged you, and wouldn't let go and go away, even after you walk away. ( Well, it would irritate me with me being a "no touchy" person.)

The lion inches back and flares and the tang keeps on.

The tang isn't trying to eat the lion's fins.- I can see the tank from three rooms away when it can't see me, so I know what's going on in there.- And, like I said, it isn't using the scalpel on the lion.

I will just tear down one of my 20 gallon tanks, and use it for a QT for the lion. Because I've got the salt low in my other one -hypo-

Ok, just thought of something...you know when a fish is about to scratch on a rock? Like, how the...lets say tang, will sit there for a second-frilling the fins- before it scratches? That's kind of what it looks like. Only, the tangs isnt trying to scratch.

If your tank doesn't have ich; no amount of stress can "cause''. Its either in your tank or it isn't. If you don't QT & treat ALL your fish; you stand a big chance of a real disaster. Please read up on this parasite. understanding the life cycles of fish parasites is vital for any hobbyist, IMO.