Chalkbass eating other fish??

[coralsandfishes]

I thought that Chalk basslet are reef safe but my ate Nemo.. I added a group of 6 Chalk bass a while back and now only have a couple left (about 2" each). My wife wanted a bunch of nemo in the tank so I decided to add 5 more (less than 1" each) with the 3 already in the tank (2" each). after acclimation I added the clownfish to the tank (Rea Sea 750 XXL) and immediately the chalk bass start stocking them.. I felt a bit weird about this so I went to get the net and when I got back with the net in hand I can see that one of the clown fish inside the mouth of the Chalkbass. I turn around to get the phone to take a picture and when I turned back 1 nemo can be seen as a bump in the stomach and the rest never to be seen again..

Is this normal? should I added anymore fishes?

currently have
purple tang
yellow tang
hippo tang
2 chalk
sixlines
royal gamma
watchman
sailfin goby
10 chromis
2 cleanner shrimp
CUC

 

[blaxsun]

Reef-safe and fish-safe are two different things. I agree that a lot of the information out there is a bit misleading - as many guides label it as friendly, peaceful, etc. They can (and apparently will) on occasion prey upon much smaller fish - so if you're going to keep these I wouldn't add anything smaller. You may want to look at rehoming your chalk bass if you continue to experience fish disappearances.

 

[Cheese Griller]

As the saying goes, if it can fit in another fish's mouth, it will probably end up there! Especially with larger mouthed fishes like chalk bass. When I used to keep freshwater fish I had a 14" peacock bass try to eat an odoe pike that was at least 3/4 of its size. Very expensive lesson.

 

[exnisstech]

Chalk bass have a max size of 3 inches. I've have had one for over a year that is close to that size and I can't imaging it fitting another fish in its mouth even a 1 inch clown. :thinking-face:

 

[coralsandfishes]

Chalk bass have a max size of 3 inches. I've have had one for over a year that is close to that size and I can't imaging it fitting another dish in its mouth even a 1 inch clown. :thinking-face:

I was really surprise... I wish I was a bit quicker with the phone... the clownfish was in sideway too.. showing the stripes and all..

 

[happyhourhero]

Mine have never, ever shown the slightest aggression, even in a nano but they are basslets and I’m sure it’s within the realm of possibility to eat a small fish.