Orchid dottyback midas blenny fin nipping

injdog · Dec 23, 2015

I purchased a midas blenny and a tank raised orchid dottyback from the lfs that were from the same tank about a month ago. The orchid is a little bigger than the midas blenny. In QT I noticed the orchid dottyback had nipped fins and the midas blenny was obviously more dominant. After QT I decided to add the orchid dottyback to the DT first and introduce the midas blenny a couple weeks after. Well after introducing the midas blenny their roles reversed. 2 days in and the midas blenny now has nipped fins and is mostly hiding in the rockwork.

Should I have added the midas blenny first? Should I take the orchid dottyback out back into QT for a week and re introduce? I only have 2 other clownfish in the tank.

The Midas blenny is blueish/black. The LFS said that it came in gold, but turned that color while in the store. Is the similar coloration to the dottyback causing aggression? Im contemplating adding a sunburst anthia next. Hopefully this will help the midas color up gold again. Thoughts?

eatbreakfast · Dec 23, 2015

injdog said:
I purchased a midas blenny and a tank raised orchid dottyback from the lfs that were from the same tank about a month ago. The orchid is a little bigger than the midas blenny. In QT I noticed the orchid dottyback had nipped fins and the midas blenny was obviously more dominant. After QT I decided to add the orchid dottyback to the DT first and introduce the midas blenny a couple weeks after. Well after introducing the midas blenny their roles reversed. 2 days in and the midas blenny now has nipped fins and is mostly hiding in the rockwork.

Should I have added the midas blenny first? Should I take the orchid dottyback out back into QT for a week and re introduce? I only have 2 other clownfish in the tank.

The Midas blenny is blueish/black. The LFS said that it came in gold, but turned that color while in the store. Is the similar coloration to the dottyback causing aggression? Im contemplating adding a sunburst anthia next. Hopefully this will help the midas color up gold again. Thoughts?

For dottybacks, orchids are usually pretty peaceful, but they both are territorial about the rocks. Give it a few days, it should sort itself out, unless there is relentless chasing.

However, with territoriality being observed, a sunburst may not be the best idea, as they are not as outgoing as other anthias species.