why do my fish always fight

[Cosine]

I can understand when I had the pseudochromis but now its getting ridiculous!

alright I came home today and all is well 3 fish acting normal. I went to the LFS to look around ate supper then came back to look at the tank. My wrasse was knocking the crap out of my clownfish. All his fins are shredded and his dorsal is almost gone.
I turned the light out in hopes the aggression will stop.
They usually get along and even swim around together. I like both fish and would rather not have to return either one but if this keeps up I might have too.
I can't get the right balance.
by the way 4-line wrasse, osce clown and the other fish in there is a royal gramma
35g tank.
why do fish have to be such jerks
I fed them too and the clown wouldn't eat. This guys is a pig too so he's feeling the pain. I'm considering going and getting a 20g or 15g tank tomorrow and put put a few chunks of rock in there from my 30. I can move one of the fish over there until I get the 125 set up. The move the wrasse into the big tank and the clown can stay where he is.
Hopefully he'll forget why he was mad in the morning.
Any ideas what the problem is or what I should do?
They've been together for awhile now maybe a few months I would estimate anways.

Also why is the clown such a wuss he won't fight back at all!

[jdbassin]

We're they all added at the same time or was the wrasse first? HOw do they compare in size? Does the wrasse have his own territory in the tank?


jd

[loren]

I realy can't tell you why they fight I hate to see that to.
I think it's a good idea to separate the 2 before they kill one another. take action before it's to late, a fish not eating is not a good sign

[tabwyo]

You can QT the most aggressive fish for a couple weeks and then put him back in. This should give your other critters a chance to establish an order and then they will keep the aggresor in check. Works on very nasty cichlids. If it doesn't then you may need another tank for cranky fish or trade him in.

[tabwyo]

Oh a 35g is kinda cramped for a wrasse.

[tims]

well each likes it own house, and hates visitors . so if they fight at night it is cause they are "into " each others area.the clown is wussin' cause the wrasse maybe too fast for it.just pray they do not piss off the gramma, that basslett will take a chuck out of them.. sounds like they really need that bigger tank..

[Doug1]

Try rearranging the rockwork with the lights out, it may confuse them long enough that they will quit while staking out a spot.
SW are more territorial than typical FW fish, yet another reason why SW tanks only support a fraction of the fish load that the same size FW will

[Cosine]

well they are similar size
the clown has been there much longer and usually hangs out on the left of the tank, he doesn't host anything. They've been together awhile without aggression.
So far nobody is challenging the gramma for his spot... they see the mouth.
The wrasse doesn't have specific territory he jsut swims around all day. Maybe the tank is his territory.
I don't have a qt tank right now but that's why I'm gonna go get a 20g now and then it can be used to hold on of the fish for awhile and then can be a qt tank.
If I use rock from my tank and a mix of new salt water and my tank water can I transfer a fish over soon?

[SPC]

Originally Posted by Cosine

why do fish have to be such jerks

For survival in the wild.

Also why is the clown such a wuss he won't fight back at all!

In the wild clowns use an anemone for protection from other animals, some clowns are more aggressive than others however.

Try to remember, Cosine, that we are dealing with animals that have evolved over millions of years to behave in a certain manner in their natural environment. If in nature they claim and defend a territory of a certain size, then you can bet they will bring that survival skill with them into an aquarium.
Steve

[Cosine]

Yeah Steve you are right.
Its not really there fault if I'm gonna keep them I have to get proper homes for them.
Well I now have a qt tank finally!
its just a little 15g AGA tank with a biowheel on the back and a heater.
I'm gonna probably put a PH in there for some flow.
Well time to see if I can't catch a wrasse.
I'm gonna get an ice cream container or something with holes in it and put him in a little jail over night if I can get him. Time to make some salt water!

[reefkpr391]

Good luck on catching that wrasse....try the small plastic bottle with food, the wrasse is a curious fish and will probably head right for the food in there.

[Cosine]

thanks!
I tried that with a pseudochromis once
no luck but the wrasse is more inquisitive for sure!