Does adding new fish stress you out?

[vlangel]

It is so stressful to me that I do not do it very often, but when I do I will usually add multiple fish. If I have a peaceful, well adjusted tank community, I usually just want to leave well enough alone. How about you, what are your feelings about it?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Depends for me. I don’t think there was any point in time where I felt uneasy or stressed adding fish to my tank. When I added my clowns I was more concerned about them surviving and being ok. Which they are thriving now!

 

[Tamberav]

Yes! It means potential disease (even QT isn’t perfect), possible change in tank dynamics among the fish and it means I have to have a fish shipped which stresses them or potential DOA (no LFS here). I also tend to prefer fish that happen to be difficult, fragile, or poor shippers.

It also means if a fish doesn’t work out, there’s no LFS to take it to and there is maybe 3 other people with tanks where I live.

There is a lot that could go sour.

I upgraded to a much larger tank which means room for more fish but it’s stressing me out.

 

[vlangel]

Depends for me. I don’t think there was any point in time where I felt uneasy or stressed adding fish to my tank. When I added my clowns I was more concerned about them surviving and being ok. Which they are thriving now!

I am happy for you that your clowns are thriving! That is what we all hope for!!!

 

[littlefoxx]

Yes. Francis is a downright terror to new fish.

 

[vlangel]

Yes! It means potential disease (even QT isn’t perfect), possible change in tank dynamics among the fish and it means I have to have a fish shipped which stresses them or potential DOA (no LFS here). I also tend to prefer fish that happen to be difficult, fragile, or poor shippers.

It also means if a fish doesn’t work out, there’s no LFS to take it to and there is maybe 3 other people with tanks where I live.

There is a lot that could go sour.

I upgraded to a much larger tank which means room for more fish but it’s stressing me out.

My sentiments exactly! I have had them arrive DOA. I have had them go on a hunger strike. I have had them harassed to death by a long time resident. And I try not to take their deaths personally but I do. When I have them in my tank years and years, I feel the loss when they pass but that is the way of life. However when I acquire a new fish I cant help but feel responsible. They are my first love too, inverts and coral are fun but fish are the main reason I keep an aquarium.

 

[vlangel]

Yes. Francis is a downright terror to new fish.

It must be a tang thing. In my tank this go around, it's Tommy my tomini.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

I've never had a reason to be nervous about adding new fish, but for some reason I always am! I don't have any aggressive fish or a fish that didn't survive the transition or anything else that, but I still get worried.

 

[littlefoxx]

It must be a tang thing. In my tank this go around, it's Tommy my tomini.

Nope sailfin, he is in the picture in my post lol. Big sailfin too

 

[Uncle99]

Yup
Stress both of us!

 

[Idech]

There are serious risks to adding fish to an existing tank so yes, it always makes me nervous.

 

[Dburr1014]

It is so stressful to me that I do not do it very often, but when I do I will usually add multiple fish. If I have a peaceful, well adjusted tank community, I usually just want to leave well enough alone. How about you, what are your feelings about it?

Ug, yes.
My community is pretty peaceful even with a purple tang.

Every new fish, I cringe. He's been pretty good about it though.
I last added a large bimac anthias. Didn't even look twice.

Before that was a tri-color and a melanurus wrasse.

I'm not quite done adding so we will see what happens.

 

[vlangel]

Ug, yes.
My community is pretty peaceful even with a purple tang.

Every new fish, I cringe. He's been pretty good about it though.
I last added a large bimac anthias. Didn't even look twice.

Before that was a tri-color and a melanurus wrasse.

I'm not quite done adding so we will see what happens.

I am glad that your tang is being a good citizen! :-)

 

[vlangel]

Today my tomini tang was relentlessly chasing my new female fairy wrasse. I finally had it with his bullying so I practically had to tear my tank apart but I caught him. He's in a baby net enclosure until I can rehome him. Immediately the 2 firefish and fairy wrasse began swimming out in the open in a more relaxed way.

 

[zen]

I also added a half-grown tomini tang to my established mixed reef tank and it too relentlessly targets the adult yellow coris wrasse right back into the sand within 20 seconds of it coming out. I never expected the tomini to be so aggressive. Not sure if they typically target wrasses or if I just got a bad apple. Anyone else experienced this?