Territorial Fish...

Hurgoth · 03/21/2007, 10:18 AM

I picked up a pair of GSM's last night (thanks orangereefer), which by the way are two of the nicest I have seen in a while. In my tank I have two other fish; a pygmy angel and a mimic lemonpeel tang. Here is the deal: the pygmy is a little b@stard. He will not leave them alone. He keeps swimming up to them and smacking them in the face with his butt. He follows them all over the tank and does not stop. I am worried he is going to stress them out. They are twice his size but they are not retaliating whatsoever.

Do I need to separate them? I only ask because of all the times I have added fish over the last few years, I have never seen this. Will he eventually calm down?

cdangel0 · 03/21/2007, 11:01 AM

Try reaquascaping a litle bit - the pygmy has already established himself as the dominant tank mate - he feels like you just let someone new move in to his house.

if you rearrange some of the rock he should feel like he's in a new place and lose some of his dominance / aggressivness.

Hurgoth · 03/21/2007, 11:10 AM

Funny thing is, I completely re-aquascaped before I put them in.

He also follows the tang around like a puppy. I think he better get his act in gear before the GSM's get comfortable.

Sepeku · 03/21/2007, 11:26 AM

You could always quarantine him for awhile. Reintroduce him after a week or 2.

Its done wonders for quelling my damsels.

Hurgoth · 03/21/2007, 11:52 AM

You think putting him in my sump with the skimmer would mess him up at all?

cdangel0 · 03/21/2007, 11:56 AM

Yes - too much turbulance

03/21/2007, 10:18 AM	#1
Hurgoth Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,011	Territorial Fish... I picked up a pair of GSM's last night (thanks orangereefer), which by the way are two of the nicest I have seen in a while. In my tank I have two other fish; a pygmy angel and a mimic lemonpeel tang. Here is the deal: the pygmy is a little b@stard. He will not leave them alone. He keeps swimming up to them and smacking them in the face with his butt. He follows them all over the tank and does not stop. I am worried he is going to stress them out. They are twice his size but they are not retaliating whatsoever. Do I need to separate them? I only ask because of all the times I have added fish over the last few years, I have never seen this. Will he eventually calm down?

03/21/2007, 11:01 AM	#2
cdangel0 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 905	Try reaquascaping a litle bit - the pygmy has already established himself as the dominant tank mate - he feels like you just let someone new move in to his house. if you rearrange some of the rock he should feel like he's in a new place and lose some of his dominance / aggressivness.

03/21/2007, 11:10 AM	#3
Hurgoth Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,011	Funny thing is, I completely re-aquascaped before I put them in. He also follows the tang around like a puppy. I think he better get his act in gear before the GSM's get comfortable.

03/21/2007, 11:26 AM	#4
Sepeku Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 356	You could always quarantine him for awhile. Reintroduce him after a week or 2. Its done wonders for quelling my damsels.

03/21/2007, 11:52 AM	#5
Hurgoth Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,011	You think putting him in my sump with the skimmer would mess him up at all?

03/21/2007, 11:56 AM	#6
cdangel0 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 905	Yes - too much turbulance