Bellus Angel Vs Yellow Tang

[mlivvy]

I have a 100g 5 foot tank. I added a med biota yellow tang and was concerned over my naso and bristletooth. The 2 tangs didn't care for him but the Bellus angel quickly bit at the fins and chased him around the tank. I caught the bellus and placed it in an acclimation box. What can I do from here??

 

[i cant think]

I have a 100g 5 foot tank. I added a med biota yellow tang and was concerned over my naso and bristletooth. The 2 tangs didn't care for him but the Bellus angel quickly bit at the fins and chased him around the tank. I caught the bellus and placed it in an acclimation box. What can I do from here??

You’ve likely moved the wrong fish into the acclimation box - I’ve not had too much success with having the aggressor in the box and the newbie in the tank as the aggressor will go back to its previously claimed territory.
Did you start with the yellow in the acclimation box?

 

[mlivvy]

You’ve likely moved the wrong fish into the acclimation box - I’ve not had too much success with having the aggressor in the box and the newbie in the tank as the aggressor will go back to its previously claimed territory.
Did you start with the yellow in the acclimation box?

Yes I did. The tang sat in the acclimation box for a day. Only the tangs swam around the box the angel didn't care. Once released the angel quickly went to work biting his fins. The angel chases the tang around the tanks so i'm unsure if she has claimed territory. Maybe I should move some rocks anyway? I posted on FB and people were suggesting a "time out" for the aggressor.

 

[Uncle99]

Was that a constant chase, or a couple of real fast hits?

How long before you took the aggressor out?

In many cases I’ve experienced, if the “chase” is not sustained and prolonged, it may be simply a demonstration of rank.

After a few “runs” (assuming no major damage) the situation can at this point resolve itself as the new member takes its place.

Just seen this a week ago with a Yellow Tang being introduced to an existing group including a 6” Sailfin, and a 5” Bristletooth.

The Sailfin, a much larger fish looked, and then paid no attention, the Bristletooth chased the yellow like a lighting bolt, twice, with 2 mins, but no damage.

Then 20 mins of peace.

Then another rush, but not as fast.

After that, there was no further agression.

So, if your introduction was short lived, maybe just to fast, “they” do need sometime together to work things out.

If the attack was constant, and unrelenting or was resulting in damage, then like where you are, the aggressor comes out, provided there’s only one agessor.

Maybe then, 24 -48 hour penalty? In the box. Move some rock, yup that’s good thought, maybe a small mirror, so next time he comes out of the box, he’ll have TWO new friends to deal with, one, looks just like him. He may rush the mirror and forget the yellow.

There are cases where nothing changes the situation.

 

[mlivvy]

The attack was constant. The tang will try to hide in different places and she’ll seek him out. I’m going to try adding mirrors.

Someone mentioned adding another angel?

 

[Uncle99]

The attack was constant. The tang will try to hide in different places and she’ll seek him out. I’m going to try adding mirrors.

Someone mentioned adding another angel?

How long?
An hour, two?
Biting with damage?
I’d just try the mirror and a reintroduction firstly.

 

[mlivvy]

How long?
An hour, two?
Biting with damage?
I’d just try the mirror and a reintroduction firstly.

It was nonstop until I stopped it. The angel was biting at the fins and attempting to bite on the body.

 

[Uncle99]

It was nonstop until I stopped it. The angel was biting at the fins and attempting to bite on the body.

Gotcha!

Can’t see how’s that’s going to change.

In similar cases, I’ve just had to fully separate.
Haven’t had many like that, but sometimes it just don’t work, even in cases where it should have worked.

Maybe the second or third reintroduction will result in lower agression.

 

[slingfox]

If using an acclimation box you should be prepared to leave the new fish in it for 2 weeks. One day is basically nothing. I also always add a mirror to distract the current tank inhabitants. Thankfully I haven’t had any notable aggression issues in my 5 ft tank but sometimes it is luck of the draw. Acclimation bid + mirror + keep the fish very well fed when intruding new inhabitants increases the chances of success.

 

[i cant think]

Yes I did. The tang sat in the acclimation box for a day. Only the tangs swam around the box the angel didn't care. Once released the angel quickly went to work biting his fins. The angel chases the tang around the tanks so i'm unsure if she has claimed territory. Maybe I should move some rocks anyway? I posted on FB and people were suggesting a "time out" for the aggressor.

All fish have claimed territory - Angels are boisterous with it too. If anything is unclaimed, they will take it. That’s why she would’ve been chasing the yellow all round the tank.

Leaving the tang for a singular day was basically the same as just throwing it straight in on day 1. Acclimation boxes are at a minimum 1 week of allowing the fish to see each other - 2 weeks is more advised.

The attack was constant. The tang will try to hide in different places and she’ll seek him out. I’m going to try adding mirrors.

Someone mentioned adding another angel?

Adding another angel would maybe work as you’ll disperse aggression however it depends entirely on your current tank size and fish stock.

I will also say, I’ve had some nasty aggression when my tank has been at maximum capacity for fish. And I mean aggression that resulted in murder (I’ve figured out my tank is a maximum of 30 fish with the territory and being pretty much entirely wrasses). So you may want to consider that scenario.

 

[mlivvy]

Update- Bellus went in time out for a few days and a mirror distracted the other tangs. The yellow tang swam freely, got used to the tank, and acclimated well. Released the bellus and she swam right to the yellow tang. The tang did the fin stretch thing they do and the bellus backed off. Now they all swim together.