HELP! Aggressive Hippo Tang

[ShoreGirl]

I just placed a pair of purple tilefish and my hippo tang is attacking one of them. I had the lights off for awhile and put them back on but he went after it again. Lights are off again till morning now. Any advice?

 

[Chrisgarrick]

I've heard of guys putting a mirror up to the glass to keep the tang occupied untill the others get settled...good luck!

 

[Hockeynut]

Is there anyway you can divide the tank With a Piece of acrylic? I'm sure you have rock work which would make that pretty impossible but worth a try maybe. How big are the tilefish. Maybe if it turns on the tang even just once maybe it will stop. Good luck

 

[matt2939]

I've heard of folks using plastic grating to divide a tank up when adding new fish. Like the light diffuser stuff at lowes/home depot. You can get one sheet of it for like $12 and then cut it to the size. Then the fish can see each other and establish there territory so when the barrier is removed they get along better. I haven't personally tried it but sounds legit.

 

[Sunny]

Put a vanity mirror inside the tank for a couple of days. He will be busy with himself.

 

[JRWOHLER]

Put a vanity mirror inside the tank for a couple of days. He will be busy with himself.

Another thing that is not nescessarily easy is to redo your rock work.
Make sure you keep them well fed.
Try turning out the lights for a while.
The mirror thing.

 

[ShoreGirl]

Thanks for all the advice, the hippo tang calmed down. Everyone is getting along fine now. Unfortunately one of the tilefish got out through my grating. Had to put glass tops on until I make new screen tops. He is doing extremely well eating like a pig and is not shy at all.

Should I find him a friend or leave him single?