Achiles with Sohal

[wosis]

I have a 300gal (8ft) system with a Sohal about 8 inches long resident.It is one of the few survivors from a massive WS outbreak a year ago and since I have introduced various other fish and apart from the initial intimidation its rather peaceful.I have recently bought an Achiles about 4 inches and it is currently in QT undergoing routine Copper treatment.I bought it from a fellow reefer who had it in QT for 5 weeks with no medication along with 3 Purple Tangs.It has no visual sign of problems and eats well on flake.
2 questions.
1)How long should I look at keeping it in QT following the Copper.
2)Has anybody kept these 2 fish together and what happened?
Thanks.

[snorvich]

Sohal will win. No contest.

[MrTuskfish]

My QT routine has stretched to 8 week. A week or so to get the fish eating, 4 weeks of copper (after taking several days to get to the copper level I want), and at least 2 weeks of close observation. I treat with Prazi-Pro either before of after the copper---not together.

I kept an Achilles and a Sohal together for about 10 years and lost them to Hurricane Katrina. I got them both when quite small and they were fine together, the Sohal gave the Achilles little reminders of who was in charge, they do that with all fish, but never had a serious incident.
Since moving, I've had two together for about four years and they behave the same way. This is just my experience and I don't expect it to be typical. It may be one of those "there's an exception to everything" situations. I think my introducing both as small fish at the same time may have really helped. Sohals are always the Alpha fish and tangs of the same genus are usually (but not always) a target. I would expect some real squabbling when you introduce them and have a "Plan B". It may just be pecking-order stuff, but could easily be impossible. For what its worth: for some reason, I think Achilles have become somewhat easier than they once were, still difficult fish, though.

[wosis]

The plan is to give the Sohal a mirror for a couple of days so it can beat its reflection up.

[MrTuskfish]

I just looked at your public profile. Are both of these fish going into a 100 gal tank? If so, please ignore my previous post and do some serious research. That would be a death sentence for the Achilles, IMO. I've kept my Sohals in 240s and I think that may be on the small side, I'd sure never go smaller. LA suggests 250 min and 180 for an Achilles.

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by wosis

The plan is to give the Sohal a mirror for a couple of days so it can beat its reflection up.

This would be like getting Mike Tyson to play nice by giving him cookies and milk. I'm treating this as a serious question; I hope I'm wrong.

[cloak]

Check this out.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1785346

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by MrTuskfish

I think my introducing both as small fish at the same time may have really helped.

Yes, I agree. The OP has an established Sohal so I am less optimistic. The introduction of both when small also seems to work with large angels.

[wosis]

Must amend my profile.As in the OP the tanks is 300gallons.Other post was a poor joke.Sorry

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by wosis

Must amend my profile.As in the OP the tanks is 300gallons.Other post was a poor joke.Sorry

I must have skimmed (a lifelong bad habit of mine) the OP, sorry.

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by snorvich

Yes, I agree. The OP has an established Sohal so I am less optimistic. The introduction of both when small also seems to work with large angels.

I agree with both points. The real variable in questions like this is often " how long are you willing to put up with the inevitable quarreling"? To some of us, just a fish chasing another is "aggression", to others, anything short of a slow death is acceptable. With fish like these, I guess you have to be a little more willing to put up with some battles----but still know when it isn't going to work. No magic suggestions, just use common sense and experience.