What to Do with My Fish!

[ca1ore]

Thinking about shutting down my 90 gallon FOWLR in an attempt to simplify my system a bit, but I'm torn on what to do with the 12 resident fish. I already re-homed a black and white clown pair, but the remaining ones present something of a dilemma. My reef tank is a 265, but it already has a heavy load with 16 anthias, 5 tangs, three butterflys, and 16 other assorted medium-sized fish. Frag tank is a 60, with a single small scopas tang as sole resident.

Here's what I'm thinking ....

1. Convict tang will be killed by my Achilles, so it'll go into the frag tank .... but is a 4' frag 60 gal too small?
2. Chevron tang will go into the 265 .... there are no other bristletooth tangs and use of a socialization box may allow me to get in in without any bloodshed.
3. I think I will have to find a new home for the naso tang as 7 tangs is pushing things a bit even in a 265!
4. Possum wrasse will go into the 265; no fish I have ever had minds its own business like this one and I doubt anything in the big reef will give it trouble.
5. The four chalk basslets will have to be rehomed; 265 already has a trio that have grown quite large and I don't think it could handle 7.
6. But the biggest question is the four leopard wrasses. The 265 already has one large leopard and a mandarin. I'm concerned about aggression, but also adding more pod eaters may starve out the mandarin. I suppose I could put the leopards into the frag tank, though that would mean adding a sand bed.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Jasanden]

I wouldn't add anything but the leopards to the 265. I love the leopards and the size difference you stated mAy give you a chance of a male and a harem. Get rid of the possum because of the pods. I'd still worry about the chevron just cause of its body shape and your already high bio load. The Achiles may take exception to new room mates and I'm afraid the chevron will take the brunt.

This is all just my opinion and preference.
Good luck

 

[Dmorty217]

Well Simon it sounds like the 90g is coming down and a 150g is going up in it's place! The convict could go with the scopus. The rest of the fish minus the bristletooth sound like they are going to hit the "for sale" market

 

[evolved]

The existing leopard; is it male or female? If it's male, adding the others could be problematic.

 

[ca1ore]

The existing leopard; is it male or female? If it's male, adding the others could be problematic.

All the leopards are female.

I really hate to sell them because they're all well acclimated and eat everything, even pellets. Resident female is a 3" Meleagris; ones in the FOWLR are a 3" potters (might be a male), a 2" female negosensis (sp?) and two 2" female Bipartitus.

 

[ca1ore]

Well Simon it sounds like the 90g is coming down and a 150g is going up in it's place!

Not helpful ..... :lol:

 

[Dmorty217]

Not helpful ..... :lol:

I know, sorry Simon:crazy1:

 

[nuxx]

Never go by the body type tang thing...

I had a Yellow and Yellow Bellied Blue kill a Tomini. While the Tomini and Chevron were cool with each other.

I saw the last straw happen and only the Yellow and Yellow Bellied Blue were involved.

Found a dead Purple the day before...

I want to add 3 Acan. and 1 more Zebr. to the tank, but I'm petrified, even not having a Acan. Tang in the tank right now.

Plan is to add more dither fish and then try way down the line. Not even sure if it'll work...

 

[ca1ore]

Last tang I added to my big tank was a Sailfin. He was significantly bigger than any of the residents, and they still gave him a really rough time. Eventually his size was enough to ensure success ..... Chevie has no such size advantage, but I think I will give it a shot using my socialization box and make a judgement based on how that goes. Chevie is pretty feisty.

Convict is a non starter however. Any time I have ever had an established Achilles, any subsequent Acanthurus was either killed or had to be quickly removed.

 

[nuxx]

Last tang I added to my big tank was a Sailfin. He was significantly bigger than any of the residents, and they still gave him a really rough time. Eventually his size was enough to ensure success ..... Chevie has no such size advantage, but I think I will give it a shot using my socialization box and make a judgement based on how that goes. Chevie is pretty feisty.

Convict is a non starter however. Any time I have ever had an established Achilles, any subsequent Acanthurus was either killed or had to be quickly removed.

Have to remember that with an Achilles down the road as well.

Our Chevron started out pretty passive, but is now feisty.