I think I'm in trouble... Blue Tang question.

[Endoplasmic]

Hey all,

If you read a caople of days ago I picked up a juvi Blue tang from my LFS to replace the large yellow that I raised that didn't make it durring my move.

I thouht all would be fine, but my perc clown is picking on it pretty bad. I came home yesturday to find "chomp" marks on the blue tang, on his side and a large one takin' out of his beautiful top fin.

Will the clown keep fighting this fish until it's dead? I think the biggest problem is that it doesn't fight back.

I'm scared to loose the blue tang, and have no where else to turn. Takin' the clown out isn't an option because for obvious reasoins I'm very attached to it. I just thought the tang would be a nice addition to the eco system as well as a very nice visual element for me to look at while I gaze into the tank.

Sorry for the length, but I'm pretty sad right now.

Cheers,

Scott

[uurt]

Doesn't sound like the kids want to play nice. Do you have another tank you could maybe put your tang into??
Maybe the tang police will help with some advice. Good Luck.

lee

[Endoplasmic]

I have a 15 gal, but I can't see that working out... Man this really sucks... the tangs so such a nice job with the algea control....

[Alice]

There are a couple of tricks you can try. Especially since clowns are so territorial you might try rearranging the rock work a bit to throw the clown off balance. You can also put a net in the tank for a few days, just leave it in propped in there. It's a "twitch"; the fish are usually more preoccupied with the net than they are with each other.

HTH and good luck!

Alice

[Endoplasmic]

good idea!!!

I was using the net yesturday as sort as the shockin' the mouse thing... when the clown went to attack i would drop the net in and pretend to try and catch him.... man that didn't work at all...

Right now I know everyone is safe because back at home the lights are off, so tomorrow I'll have the chance to do the net thing.

Thanks for the tip... and it looks like I have some rocks to move around *sigh* I was pretty happy with the layout now

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Well you could put the clown in the 15 gallon and let the tang clean up your tank and then put the clown back in and it may not be so aggressive! Oh the fun we have!

[Michigan kelly]

My false percula clown picked endlessly at my blue spotted jawfish when I added the jawfish to my tank. The worse thing about it was that the attack was occurring mostly after lights were out and the jawfish was coming out of his hole to investigate the tank. The clown was absolutely unrelenting and the jawfish did not seem to have the sense to just go back to his hole to hide out. He would simply run to a different spot on the sand. When the jawfish's tail was basically eaten off, I decided I had to move the clown out and into my refugium. I think that was the advice someone on this board gave to me.

Well, after a few weeks, I moved the clown back to the main tank and everything has been just fine. I guess he lost his territorial attitude after being away from home for so long. The jawfish stopped his night time wanderings too, which probably helped to stop the clown from being tempted to attack like before. So, this strategy worked for me. Maybe if the net thing doesn't work, you could move the clown to your 15 gallon for a mini-vacation. Hope this helps.

[Chris Witort]

Your blue tang isn't going to help your algae problem much. They eat more protein than yellow tangs, purple tangs, or powder blues. As far as agressive behavior goes, clowns are a damsel fish and as such they can be very agressive. Their territorial behavior usually diminishes over a few weeks once they are used to seeing the other fish regularly.

[Endoplasmic]

Originally posted by Chris Witort
Your blue tang isn't going to help your algae problem much. They eat more protein than yellow tangs, purple tangs, or powder blues. As far as agressive behavior goes, clowns are a damsel fish and as such they can be very agressive. Their territorial behavior usually diminishes over a few weeks once they are used to seeing the other fish regularly.

I find that sort of odd then. Or my tang is a freak. The second I let him out of the bag (after running from the clown of course) was he was picking at rocks.

I'm not sure if it was at algea or what.. but He was pickin' away which was really nice to see.

On a side note... If corals are without light for a couple of days, things should still be ok i assume. If not looks like I'm makin' a long trip home to turn on some lights

[Hommeworks]

Wow! I didn't know clowns could be so aggressive. Mine has such a passive stupid puppy dog look to it. Makes you want to throw it a milkbone

[OodleyBoodely]

I spent most of the past two years trying to pair up maroon and oscellaris clowns and integrate new fish into the system with them. The best tecnique I found that caused the least amount of damage and stress to the animals involved was just as Johnny and Kelly said. Move the pair of clownfish to the 15g vacation home for a week or two. Not only are they the easiest fish to catch in a reef tank (just corner them in their coral/anemone) but, removing them will allow the new fish time to become aclimated and adjusted to the new system without having to contend with bullies, too.

[Big Dave]

Your Tang may be picking at pods running around the rocks. I have 2 small blue/hippo tangs in my 135, with a GSM clown. I have had zero problems! (knock on wood) I agree that the blues don't do much for algae control. They don't touch any macro growing on the rocks, nori, lettuce, etc. They are fat and healthy and just go crazy for the blender mush! And yes, it is possible your fish is a freak! Kind of leads back to the 'Reef safe' fish idea. Most of the time yes, but not always.

-Big Dave