Gurgle is a jerk!

hllb · Oct 20, 2019

Moved my Midas blenny and clown goby into my display tank today. My royal gramma, Gurgle, is being a jerk. I’m hoping he’ll mellow out with time. The lights were off for several hours after the transfer. He’s chasing them with his mouth wide open. I even though he bit the goby on the back (caught a picture- he was aggressively chasing with his mouth open). But the goby didn’t run away and no mark so maybe it was just a warning. The gramma has been in the tank maybe a month and a half with my clown. He even chased the clown today (they’re good friends normally).

reef lover · Oct 23, 2019

How bigs the tank? Has he chilled any?

Skibum · Oct 23, 2019

hllb said:
Moved my Midas blenny and clown goby into my display tank today. My royal gramma, Gurgle, is being a jerk. I’m hoping he’ll mellow out with time. The lights were off for several hours after the transfer. He’s chasing them with his mouth wide open. I even though he bit the goby on the back (caught a picture- he was aggressively chasing with his mouth open). But the goby didn’t run away and no mark so maybe it was just a warning. The gramma has been in the tank maybe a month and a half with my clown. He even chased the clown today (they’re good friends normally).

Move the rocks around tonight, make them wake up in a different "ocean" ;-)

vetteguy53081 · Oct 23, 2019

I agree,,,,, change landscape. Fish will be more occupied finding a new hiding place than worried about the new neighbors !!

KrisReef · Oct 23, 2019

You might have to drop a rock on the aggressor to get the Gramma's attention.

In my tank, "The Hand" has chased and "hunted" all of my jerk fish and taught them that fighting is not tolerated in the tank. My maroon clowns don't bite the hand when I reach into their nest and the other fish (tangs, file, foxface) all go into their corners and hide when the hand comes in.

I've netted and removed a few fish that couldn't understand The Hand and the remaining crew behave nicely. The netted fish never came back!

Be The Hand!

hllb · Oct 23, 2019

My tank is a 32g so it is small. He has calmed down now, thankfully! They’re not friends yet, but he’s tolerating the new crew now. I’ve installed new lights and have been playing with them so Gurgle is a bit uneasy which probably helped!