Need advice!

sean rand · Jul 28, 2019

Hello there!
I had a herlicun tusk and a flame angel in qt together for 4 weeks and came back after a weekend and the flame angel was no where to be seen. I checked the hob filter and i saw bone frangments from the flame angel in there. I was wondering if the tusk killed it or ot died and then the tusk ate it. I have heard horror stories about tusks killing smaller fish but they have been together for a month without a issue. Any advice will will be appreciated.

KrisReef · Jul 28, 2019

The Tusk enjoyed dinner. Sometimes weak fish get eaten to reduce pressure in an ecosystem. The angel May have been sick or just made the tusk angry. No way to know now, but these things happen. Sorry about your loss.

sean rand · Jul 28, 2019

KrisReef said:
The Tusk enjoyed dinner. Sometimes weak fish get eaten to reduce pressure in an ecosystem. The angel May have been sick or just made the tusk angry. No way to know now, but these things happen. Sorry about your loss.

If the flame angel was not sick and not weak. He never shows any sogn of aggression towards the flameangel. They were both meant to be put in the DT on monday. I dont want to add the tusk to my display tank if he will eat smaller fish. Fyi i have a small hermit crab in the tank with him now and he does not bother him.

nereefpat · Jul 28, 2019

Most likely the flame died first. I don't believe a tusk could or would kill and eat a healthy angel.

sean rand · Jul 28, 2019

I was thinking the same. I will put jim in the DT tomorrow and see how he reacts to the other fish. Thanks!

lion king · Jul 28, 2019

Please don't underestimate nature, while some fish may appear to make friends, nature will always rule. If the flame was substantially smaller than the tusk, I would not be surprised if he got hungry, he would not kill and eat him. Same said for any fish that are substantially smaller in your dt. Tusk are generally not near as menacing as they look and are great tank mates for evenly matched individuals. While some people think keeping a fish well fed will curtail their natural instincts, many times people are surprised and disappointed when nature rules.