Adding new fish to established "family"

Reefbuds · Jun 25, 2017

OK so I've had the same 5 fish in my reef for about a year and a half now. I've wanted to add someone else to the family but it seems anytime I try the others will bully until they die. They arnt particularly aggressive fish, I feel like they just don't want anyone else moving in. I've got a yellow tang, black and white clown, 6 line wrasse, citron goby, and royal gramma. Any suggestions on how to make this work or should I just accept that new fish is a bad idea?

4FordFamily · Jun 25, 2017

It depends on what you want to add - your gramma and especially your sixline won't want any wrasse or dottyback shaped fish added -- both are highly likely to barriage and kill new fish of that shape.

The yellow tang isn't likely to accept more tangs being that it's used to being the "only tang".

How big is the tank?

I'd say you're limited but it MAY be possible with social acclimation box. I would rehome the sixline that's a pinnacle of aggression later if not already.

Maddlesrain · Jun 25, 2017

A couple things that have worked for me in the past:

- change up the scape. If you disrupt all the territories, there's a chance the aggressive fish will be too busy staking new claims to pick on someone new.

- add multiple fish. This will spread out the aggression or have it cease to exist almost entirely depending on your fish.

- have the newcomer be particularly large. The size difference might keep the bullies at bay.

What type of fish are you attempting to add? Some fish are bigger targets than others in my tank. Maybe you need to try steering towards something else?

Reefbuds · Jun 25, 2017

I added 2 dartfish and a damsel a few months ago. The damsel was dead within a day from the six line. They all build the dartfish until they starved. It was impossible to catch then without interupting the entire reef. It's a 55 gallon. I'm really to add a jawfish, I'm thinking size may play a big role in it, as all my fish are at least 3" or so. I'm thinking maybe a good 3" to 4" jawfish. Thoughts?

eatbreakfast · Jun 25, 2017

I would strongly consider rehoming the sixline.

A jawfish will be vulnerable to bullying the first few days until he builds a burrow. A sixline will take advantage of that vulnerability.

Eva Rose · Jun 25, 2017

If you have a bully (six-line) in the tank, I would not recommend a jawfish. Jawfish take a few days exploring the tank finding their preferred cave/burrow. Even once established , jawfish use shells as doors to protect their burrow. They do not thrive in tanks with aggressive fish. I feel a bully fish would put a lot of stress on a jawfish.
If the six line killed a damsel, I would get a fish trap and catch it. From the sound of it the six line us taking away your enjoyment of your tank. As 4FordFamily mentioned, I would rehome the sixline.