30 gallon. I have 1 Clown and 1 Halfblack Angel and whenever I put in a new fish, the clown attacks first and then the Angel joins in, eventually ending in death (within 12 hours) for any new addition. What do I do? I want to add more fish but cannot. I was thinking about getting rid of the clown, then I was thinking to get rid of both and start from scratch again. Any ideas before I make a drastic change? I want a peaceful tank not a death tank.
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Clown and Half Black Angel Killers
- Thread starter old salty
- Start date
If its not possible to remove the fish,I would re arrange the tank(ie rock corals) also feed the existing fish to distract them from the new additions.
You're working with two very territorial fish. What type of clown is it? And kind of fish do you want to add.
I had a pair of o.clowns, a coral beauty (very small juvi) and an orchid dotty back in a 26 for about a year or a little more. I think it worked only because the clowns paired and hosted a nem which they rarely left, and o.clowns seem genrally mellow as compared to say a GSM. The coral beauty was very small (I have never seen a smaller one available at an LFS. And dottybacks, even the relatively passive orchids, are tough as nails.
That same CB that tolerated those relatively cramped conditions peacefully will give any new comer the business for days in my subsequent larger set ups. Go figure ???
I had a pair of o.clowns, a coral beauty (very small juvi) and an orchid dotty back in a 26 for about a year or a little more. I think it worked only because the clowns paired and hosted a nem which they rarely left, and o.clowns seem genrally mellow as compared to say a GSM. The coral beauty was very small (I have never seen a smaller one available at an LFS. And dottybacks, even the relatively passive orchids, are tough as nails.
That same CB that tolerated those relatively cramped conditions peacefully will give any new comer the business for days in my subsequent larger set ups. Go figure ???
One way or another you are going to have to get the fish out either to sell them or put them in quarantine to add other fish first. The rule of thumb has been to add the most passive fish first and then add the more aggressive ones, this gives the passive ones time to setup a territory first. Once the more aggressive fish have their territory they will defend it agrressively. We had the same situation in our thirty with a coral beauty. We had to pull ALL the live rock out to get him out but we are much happier without him. For the clown, depending on what type it is and how old it is, get another one and pair them up. For some reason, they do better in pairs and are less aggressive.
Right now we have a flame angel (in our experience the least agressive angel we have had), one clown (which will get a mate very soon), a mandarin and a goby. So far so good. If you pull the fish you might want to wait a little longer than 30 mins, give the new fish several days to acclimate and become comfortable. When we add new fish we turn the lights off and overfeed a bit in the beginning so there is no competition for food.
Right now we have a flame angel (in our experience the least agressive angel we have had), one clown (which will get a mate very soon), a mandarin and a goby. So far so good. If you pull the fish you might want to wait a little longer than 30 mins, give the new fish several days to acclimate and become comfortable. When we add new fish we turn the lights off and overfeed a bit in the beginning so there is no competition for food.
Well, going on a year now with this new hobby and I can honestly say I have made small mistakes throughout the entire year. My clown seems to be the worst when it comes to territory. First one to rip anything to shreds. Do you think if I eliminate the clown, the angel will not have the urge to attack. It will be easy to catch since it loves to try and eat my fingers and arm hair when I clean the tank. I like the Angel but it also has its pos and neg. Damn Damn Damn!!!!!! I'm definitely not removing my rock and corals to catch a damn fish. Damn Damn Damn!!!!! OK...where can I try to get some money for one or both of my fish? It would be great if someone would like to give me some cash for them. Any ideas?
try and catch them and take them out and put your new fish in like i said before when u put the other 2 back in they will be the new fish in the tank my sixline was tha most aggresive fish in my old tank until i moved them in to my new one now he is calm as could be i can add any fish to my tank without any problems
Hirobo said:
I second this as a general idea. Take the two guys out. Change the rock work. Add the new fish. Then the two old fish after a while.
A dotty back of some sort like Bax said will hold it's own. I have a bicolor pseudocromis that backs down from nothing.
What sort of fish have you tried to add? With those two you need to keep up fish with an edge. Don't try a firefish, goby, etc.
Firefish and a Lee's Damsel (long blue with yellow on fins)? Months ago, before I added the angel, the clown killed its partner and 2 green chromis. If anything, I may eliminate the clown. Its a big false percula with a mouth like a grouper. Do you think eliminating the aggressive clown will calm the angel? Seems the angel takes part in the killings after the clown attacks first. Any ideas?
I've had some success with territorial clowns by essentially quarantining them inside of the tank while a new fish gets settled. Essentially, I added a large glass container inside of the tank with netting secured over the top to keep the fish in and feed/allow water exchange through, and kept the clown in the container for a month. She had chased another fish into her anenome, which of course attacked it and injured it.
Be warned that you probably cannot do this to the angel, not enough algae in a quarantine-in-the-main-tank set up.
The other suggestion I can make is to give the fish being chased a safe retreat, ie introduce it to the tank in a breeding cage, and over time, put a small hole in the cage that will allow the new fish in, but is too small for the clown.
Good luck.
Be warned that you probably cannot do this to the angel, not enough algae in a quarantine-in-the-main-tank set up.
The other suggestion I can make is to give the fish being chased a safe retreat, ie introduce it to the tank in a breeding cage, and over time, put a small hole in the cage that will allow the new fish in, but is too small for the clown.
Good luck.