I think i may have a bully

[RobW]

So I just walked over to my tank and noticed an emerald crab chomping away at a clownfish. The clownfish was perfectly healthy last night. No signs of ich or velvet. Beautiful coloration. No irregular breathing. Water parameters were all checked last night when I got home from work.

Ph 8.2 hanna +red sea
Ammonia 0 red sea
Nitrite 0 red sea
Salinty 1.025
Nitrate 5 red sea
Alkalinity 9.1 hanna
Calcium 419 hanna
Magnesium 1280 red sea.

Only change to the tank is add a new skimmer. Reef octopus 1000 hang on back. I feed daily LRS reef and herbivore frenzy, PE mysis, and some homemade foods(brs recipe). I have 8 coral frags in the tank. I have a blood red shrimp, 2 cleaner shrimp, 4 small emerald crabs, some very small nassarius snails, some Margherita snails, blue legged hermits, red legged hermits, purple pincushion urchin, 1 rainbow bubble tip. He hasn't moved around since he has been in there. 1 naeko fairy wrasse, 1 coral beauty, 1 black & white striped damsel and now 1 clownfish. I did have one blue green chromis that I had transfered from a small tank. Woke up one day day to his fins being shredded and taking his last breath about 3 weeks ago. Stuck to the foam side of and mp10. 3 days later the same thing with a very small 6 line wrasse. I've noticed at times the black and white stripe damsel chasing some of the fish but not often. I feed well so everyone is always always happy and is getting food. Wondering if the black and white striped damsel is being a jerk when the lights go out and the emerald crab just happened to pick up fish after being abused? I've never had a problem with the black and white striped damsels in previous tanks if there was only one. They have been what I've used in the past as starters being that they are very hardy. Strange to me because I've never had issues in the past but that doesn't mean I can't now. Also this is the first tank I've actually tried emerald crabs in. So I have no prior experience with them.

 

[albano]

My $ is on the damsel... get rid of it!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Of all the crabs, the Emerald is what I'd consider the most reef safe of the crabs. That said, all crabs are opportunistic feeders....if they can, they'll grab and eat. However, I'd also put my money on the damsel, the devil fish of the aquarium. My guess is the damsel was the hit-man and the crab was just doing what crabs do. Note, other than clown fish, I'm not a fan of damsels.

 

[RobW]

Thats what I'm thinking as well. Guess I'm going to pull him out and see if things change.

 

[RobW]

I mean this is my tank now. As you can see the emerald is doing what he does. Sad because the clowns were a good pair.

 

[RobW]

You can tell by the pictures of the fish that no one is starving or anything.

 

[anthonygf]

I also have 2 bullies that I need to capture, 3 stripe damsels. They attack everything, all fish, also new coral frags. I've had them for close to 5 years and are getting meaner.

 

[RobW]

I also have 2 bullies that I need to capture, 3 stripe damsels. They attack everything, all fish, also new coral frags. I've had them for close to 5 years and are getting meaner.

You know, now that you mentioned that. I've noticed that the damsel will sometimes go up to the side of the jack o'lantern leptoseris frag and look like he nips or rubs one corner of it.

 

[RobW]

Kind of pain to catch that idiot. Probably have to pull some rocks to get him. I hate that. Can't continue to lose fish though.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Before going through all this activity, Try this which will save you a lot of time and headache:

Take your phone and set it on video mode for about 30-40 minutes. Walk away (as for some reason fish know youre there and are on their best behavior).
Come back and review the video and you will know who the culprit is.

 

[RobW]

Before going through all this activity, Try this which will save you a lot of time and headache:

Take your phone and set it on video mode for about 30-40 minutes. Walk away (as for some reason fish know youre there and are on their best behavior).
Come back and review the video and you will know who the culprit is.

I have a spare ring cam that I can set up there. Thats a good idea.

 

[anthonygf]

I need to glue my frags down or else they will end up in the sand. I watch them do it, as soon as I place a frag on a rock my damsel attacks it. I need to keep chasing them away for a few minutes and then they are good, I use my plant tongs and chase them relentlessly. I just might get a fish trap today and try to catch them.

 

[anthonygf]

I have a ring cam located on the end of my 75 where my clowns and there kenya coral resides and at times all fish end up in that corner. I have 4 green chromis that hang out with the clowns, yellow tang and file fish check them out as well as my flame hawk. the striped damsels will come and pick on the chromis and the clowns will chase them away, my clowns protect the chromis.

 

[RobW]

All good info. Never really knew because I never had any issues in the past. So I went with what I knew. The culprit we be out when I get back tonthe house. I dont want to kill or flush. I'll see if I can give him to one of the local lfs.

 

[RobW]

The little booger is out of the tank. Now everyone needs to calm down from me disrupting their home. Poor guys were like what the heck dude? Had 2 pull 2 out of the 3 rock structures out tonget him too! Real pain in the but. Glad thats over with. Water change and maintenance day anyway so... he got donated to the local fish store. Didn't want to flush him even though he took out 3 of my other fish. Jerk!

 

[RobW]

Now to go get another clown and a six line wrasse. Maybe a small school of chromis.

 

[albano]

IME, the 6 line wrasse can also end up being a bully... another fish on my ‘never again’ list!
Chromis usually end up picking each other off, till you’re left with one.

 

[RobW]

IME, the 6 line wrasse can also end up being a bully... another fish on my ‘never again’ list!
Chromis usually end up picking each other off, till you’re left with one.

Maybe different options then. I have one ocellaris clown, a coral beauty, and a naeoko's wrasse. I think that's how you call it.