Introducing fish while there is an aggresive Tang
 

hi All,
I'm looking for tips and tricks to introduce new fish to my system. the problem is I have a 8-9 inch Sail fin Tang that has bullied the last 4 fish I've introduced to death.
Moving rock work is not an option so I need other suggestions that have worked for you in the past

Thanks
Jason

You could try adding the new fish when the lights are out. I know this has worked for some people, but....I guess it's all hit-and-miss.

My Purple Tang is an *** and continues to bully every single fish In my tank. The way I have helped curb his aggression is feed him lots of garlic soaked spirulina after the new addition, and I move a couple pieces of rock to change the envioronment just a little.

i have had some success with always having nori available in the tank. my PB tang is a bastard but iif i keep a constant supply of nori for the first week or 2 he is less aggressive. i have also had some success with putting a mirror up against the tank. then the sailfin will be more po'd with the image because it will be reflecting the same aggressive stance.

Read up on the mirror trick. It might occupy and distract your sailfin while your new fish settles in. Never tried it myself..but may work??

That was going to be my suggestion too

Sweet suggestions everyone thanks.

I really want to get a few more fish but the Bas#$d is really descoraging

I'll give the mirror thin a try.

thanks again
J

Get some eggcrate material & build a large enclosure that can fit into the tank. Then place the new fish in there for 5-7 days. During that time, the Sailfin will try to attack it through the bars but by the end of the quarantine time, it should be used to the new fish. I have used this method very successfully in the past to get past that first few days of hyper-aggression. This gives the old fish a chance to smell, see & "taste" the new fish & get used to it being there. It's that first bit of time that most new fish get killed.

HTH,

Anthony

thanks Anthony, another great Idea. It will give me something to do with all the extra eggcrate I have as well

J

i would try a combo of all of the above. introduce at night, use the mirror trick, and still use the eggcrate enclosure. if you're too lazy to build an enclosure, you can always use one of various sized laundry baskets... granted it fits alright in your tank.

Hi Jason

If all of the suggestions given so far fail. Just hit him with a big stick. While he recouperates the other will have adjusted.

Ha Ha

Tom R

I'm scared he would pull the stick out of my hand and hit me back

hey Your back. How was the fishing trip. How is retired life treating you?

J

What fish would you like to add to your tank?
What kind of fish did you attempt to add?

I have a yellow tang in my 230g that is a real jerk and has killed one bannerfish that I tried to add. I did try the "Anthony egg crate method" but he just waited it out and attacked as soon as the fish was accessible. If you can catch the jerk (which I was not sure I could) you could try to relegate him to the sump while the new fish stakes out his territory and then add him back after a couple of weeks and then he would be the "newbie"

fish
 

The best way is take the bully out of the tank for a week keeping him in a small tank or tote.When you put him back he should be quite mellow.I do this in my 255 fish only.I t works every time.