Anyone use the mirror trick for aggressive tang/clownfish?

[Andresnyc93]

Just added a flame angel on Thursday and had him on isolation and spot fed him for all days he was in there so he didn’t miss a meal.

Today I decided to let him out since I didn’t see any aggression on the days he was in there and now my yellow tang and ocellaris clownfish won’t stop chasing after him but they don’t actually get to nip him, will he be okay or should I try anything to take away the attention from the flame? I’ve heard the mirror trick usually works but not sure how to do it. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Super Fly]

In my experience the yellow tang stopped harassing the flame after few days. Others have had success re-aquascaping the rocks to let everyone re-establish territory.

 

[blaxsun]

My clownfish and tangs completely ignore my dwarf angelfish maybe I lucked out). I think your flame should be fine (my midnight and coral beauty chased each other around for a few days until they worked things out). I believe if you just tape a flat mirror to the side of the tank that may distract the other fish.

And yeah, per @Super Fly - move a few rocks around and the fish will spend days obsessing and reacquainting themselves...

 

[Andresnyc93]

My clownfish and tangs completely ignore my dwarf angelfish maybe I lucked out). I think your flame should be fine (my midnight and coral beauty chased each other around for a few days until they worked things out). I believe if you just tape a flat mirror to the side of the tank that may distract the other fish.

And yeah, per @Super Fly - move a few rocks around and the fish will spend days acquainting themselves...

Seems to have done the deal for now… how long would you leave the mirror up for?

 

[Andresnyc93]

In my experience the yellow tang stopped harassing the flame after few days. Others have had success re-aquascaping the rocks to let everyone re-establish territory.

I’ve tried that on Sunday but the female clownfish is very stubborn and won’t stop chasing the new little guy. Mirror is up and doing its thing now, hopefully I don’t have to leave it up for much

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Give it at least 72 hours. It can sometimes take weeks for aggro to subside.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

i tried it just to see what it would do (i dont have much agression) all that i got out of it is my pufferfish will sorta puff up and flare on queue

 

[PatW]

For the mirror trick, just take a small mirror (you can get one that is not glass based on the internet) and affix it to the glass on the tank. I used two (one on both ends). The aggressor fish will see his reflection in the mirror and usually believe that it is a rival. The apparent rival will distract them and hopefully divide their attention from the fish they want to victimize. I had one harassed fish that used the mirror as a safe spot. The aggressor fish was rather intimidated by his own reflection.

By the way, continued harassing even without physical damage can stress a fish enough to cause it to die.

 

[Andresnyc93]

Give it at least 72 hours. It can sometimes take weeks for aggro to subside.

I’ll leave it up for 4 days, is just weird cause they never acted territorial or aggressive towards any other fish ever. I thought the acclimation box method was going to prevent it but I guess since the flame angel fights back it just keeps getting more aggression

 

[Andresnyc93]

For the mirror trick, just take a small mirror (you can get one that is not glass based on the internet) and affix it to the glass on the tank. I used two (one on both ends). The aggressor fish will see his reflection in the mirror and usually believe that it is a rival. The apparent rival will distract them and hopefully divide their attention from the fish they want to victimize. I had one harassed fish that used the mirror as a safe spot. The aggressor fish was rather intimidated by his own reflection.

By the way, continued harassing even without physical damage can stress a fish enough to cause it to die.

Yeah that’s why I’m worried about the angelfish, even though he tries to fight back and protect themselves they just gang up on the poor new guy but hopefully this will do the trick

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I’ll leave it up for 4 days, is just weird cause they never acted territorial or aggressive towards any other fish ever. I thought the acclimation box method was going to prevent it but I guess since the flame angel fights back it just keeps getting more aggression

It doesn't shock me. I can't add a angel that's smaller than my female Tomato clown, she will just harass it to death. I managed to lose a Rusty & Flame from previous attempts. Added a much larger BiColor and it worked out. Downside is that the BiColor is a total bully to some smaller fish now.

 

[blaxsun]

Get the clownfish an anemone. Once they figure out how to home it they'll lose any and all interest in everything else...

 

[Andresnyc93]

Get the clownfish an anemone. Once they figure out how to home it they'll lose any and all interest in everything else...

Funny you mentioned that, I added to RBTA’s from my bigger tank and they’ve completely ignored them for the past year… I was able to get the designer clownfish in them in the first day but these god dang ocellaris keep ignoring the nems

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Get the clownfish an anemone. Once they figure out how to home it they'll lose any and all interest in everything else...

That worked in my case (for the most part). She still generally harasses and is aggro to anyone approaching 'her' nem. The paired male usually isn't tolerated either. Again, I know it's a Tomato clown, they are aggro just because.

 

[Andresnyc93]

It doesn't shock me. I can't add a angel that's smaller than my female Tomato clown, she will just harass it to death. I managed to lose a Rusty & Flame from previous attempts. Added a much larger BiColor and it worked out. Downside is that the BiColor is a total bully to some smaller fish now.

I think that’s mainly why I stayed away from tomato clowns.. too god dang aggressive, hopefully this little guy makes it. They haven’t been cheap recently to get another

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I think that’s mainly why I stayed away from tomato clowns.. too god dang aggressive, hopefully this little guy makes it. They haven’t been cheap recently to get another

Eh, I've never been a designer clown guy and I wanted to buck the trend from a occellaris or percula clown this time around. I previously kept a pair of maroon's, they are the harbringer of evil.

 

[blaxsun]

hopefully this little guy makes it. They haven’t been cheap recently to get another

I'm rooting for your little guy! As long as you have some nooks and crannies for him to hide out in that should help.

 

[Andresnyc93]

I'm rooting for your little guy! As long as you have some nooks and crannies for him to hide out in that should help.

Most of the Aqua-scape is arches and filled with hiding spots. He didn’t eat last night from being tormented too much but luckily he’s eating today and hiding less

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Most of the Aqua-scape is arches and filled with hiding spots. He didn’t eat last night from being tormented too much but luckily he’s eating today and hiding less

Sounds like the aggro may be lessening.

 

[Andresnyc93]

Eh, I've never been a designer clown guy and I wanted to buck the trend from a occellaris or percula clown this time around. I previously kept a pair of maroon's, they are the harbringer of evil.

I wasn’t until I saw a black storm clown, instantly fell in love. I can only imagine what a mess that must’ve been, when I first introduced a Picasso clown with the black storm he was surely getting a good beating until he gave in and let her dominate him