Tank stress, what is going on.

abezr · 11/16/2011, 12:28 PM

Hey guys, ive got a 6 foot 240 gallon setup.

the stress started when I added a powder blue tang to my setup with a yellow tang, they tried to kill eachother... I tried to seperate them, re-arrange the rocks etc.. didnt work so I decided to go against the rules and get a big vlamigni tang to act as the boss between the two fish... and it worked. my three tangs are happy.. its been months but ever since i added my clumsy vlamigni tang to the tank all of my other fish hide... my 6 scissor tail dartfish, 6 chromis... they dont look too happy... this has been going on for months.

Here are my tank info...

6 scissortail dartfish, 6 chromis, 1 midas blenny, 2 clowns, 2 clown gobies, cleaner wrasse and my three tangs listed above, yellow is 3.5 inches, blue about the same, vlamigni is about 8 inches.

Any ideas why my fish are ALWAYS hiding.. also when they come out and my vlamigni tang comes close to them, they run away.

any tips on how to fix this would be great... my vlamigni is very mellow and clumsy... if anything, when the fish run away from him... he gets scared and hides.

username in use · 11/16/2011, 12:42 PM

Take out the vlamingii. The smaller fish are using their survival tactics to avoid being eaten by that whale. It has no business in that tank.

ezerasurfr · 11/16/2011, 12:45 PM

get a shark...then your fish wont be hiding much longer

j/k

I would get rid of the vlamigni imo, he's already too big for a 240 and still isnt at potential max growth.

To solve your problem with the other tangs, I would remove both and place them in a QT with a piece of acrylic down the middle of the QT...this will allow them to see each but not get at each other..feed them at the same time so they know they get enough food in each others presence...3-4 weeks of this should make them buddies...

Just my opinion...hope its something you can do. Good luck.

MarkusII · 11/16/2011, 12:48 PM

Hello,

well the vlamingi is by far getting to big for that tank size.
I am taking care of a 660g tank in a hotel bar and beofre I took it over they had added 2 vlamingis; one got blind some time, the other is stil in; but even for this size it is a fish that should better go in a bigger one.

I would say simply no swimming place for the small fishes when this guy rides through the tank (if you can talk about taking a ride in this size for that fish)

I have a 253g and could never think about a vlamingi in it.

regards

Markus

ups: two others have been faster than I but saying nothing different.

mcrist · 11/17/2011, 01:16 PM

I agree that a vlamigni tang will get way too big for a 240 gallon tank. I think a smaller tang might have been a better choice to help mediate the aggression between the first two tangs.

reeferdale · 11/17/2011, 01:32 PM

I agree the vlamigni is probably scaring the other fish, I wouldn't want to swim with a creature that big next to me, especially when I know that they want to eat me!

take out the vlamigni and your other tangs may be ok now. Blues are pretty tough guys and they don't take $#%t from anyone. The main issue is that tangs with the same body shape typically, not always, will spar. I have had several yellow, scopus and koles, which are all similar with no problems, but a powder blue is going to try to be the boss

Chris27 · 11/17/2011, 01:34 PM

I doubt it's the vlamigni's fault, those fish are big dumb oafs and rarely, if ever, show any aggression towards anything. The other fish in the tank should realize that in short order, and venture out into the tank. How long as it been in there?

sporto0 · 11/17/2011, 01:53 PM

Unfortunately this is just the hiearchy of nature, little fish hide from big fish, perhaps in the longer run, the smaller inhabitants will get used to the Vlamingi & realize it has no intention of eating them. Good luck, these situations to me are part of the trial & error it takes to build a functioning eco system, I enjoy the challenge & am consumed by the mystery of it all.

geaux xman · 11/17/2011, 02:01 PM

i doubt the vlamingi has anything to do with anything at all.

my friend has 2 huge and 2 medium size vlamingi in a 280g(6ft) and all his fish is out and about.

abezr · 11/27/2011, 08:35 PM

hey thank you all for your info, I agree that if i take out the vlamigni, both tangs would be OK now, but I cant give away my vlamigni, he is happy, healthy and ive grown to like him alot, hopefully my other fish realizes that the vlamigni is an overgrown teddy bear that doesnt want to eat them thats that i guess. thanks for the info

11/16/2011, 12:28 PM	#1
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	Tank stress, what is going on. Hey guys, ive got a 6 foot 240 gallon setup. the stress started when I added a powder blue tang to my setup with a yellow tang, they tried to kill eachother... I tried to seperate them, re-arrange the rocks etc.. didnt work so I decided to go against the rules and get a big vlamigni tang to act as the boss between the two fish... and it worked. my three tangs are happy.. its been months but ever since i added my clumsy vlamigni tang to the tank all of my other fish hide... my 6 scissor tail dartfish, 6 chromis... they dont look too happy... this has been going on for months. Here are my tank info... 6 scissortail dartfish, 6 chromis, 1 midas blenny, 2 clowns, 2 clown gobies, cleaner wrasse and my three tangs listed above, yellow is 3.5 inches, blue about the same, vlamigni is about 8 inches. Any ideas why my fish are ALWAYS hiding.. also when they come out and my vlamigni tang comes close to them, they run away. any tips on how to fix this would be great... my vlamigni is very mellow and clumsy... if anything, when the fish run away from him... he gets scared and hides.

11/16/2011, 12:42 PM	#2
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Take out the vlamingii. The smaller fish are using their survival tactics to avoid being eaten by that whale. It has no business in that tank. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

11/16/2011, 12:48 PM	#4
MarkusII Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: near Innsbruck/Tyrol/Austria Posts: 611	Hello, well the vlamingi is by far getting to big for that tank size. I am taking care of a 660g tank in a hotel bar and beofre I took it over they had added 2 vlamingis; one got blind some time, the other is stil in; but even for this size it is a fish that should better go in a bigger one. I would say simply no swimming place for the small fishes when this guy rides through the tank (if you can talk about taking a ride in this size for that fish) I have a 253g and could never think about a vlamingi in it. regards Markus ups: two others have been faster than I but saying nothing different. __________________ Greetings from the heart of the alps No there are no kangaroos (in the wild) in AUSTRIA Current Tank Info: 200x80x60 cm - 253G, 60x30x30cm - 14G, and in care of 660G

11/17/2011, 01:16 PM	#5
mcrist Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,598	I agree that a vlamigni tang will get way too big for a 240 gallon tank. I think a smaller tang might have been a better choice to help mediate the aggression between the first two tangs. __________________ Mark Current Tank Info: 450 Gallon Peninsula

11/17/2011, 01:34 PM	#7
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	I doubt it's the vlamigni's fault, those fish are big dumb oafs and rarely, if ever, show any aggression towards anything. The other fish in the tank should realize that in short order, and venture out into the tank. How long as it been in there? __________________ Fill your tank with $5 bills, add gasoline and light it on fire.....only then will you know the real cost of reefing. Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

11/16/2011, 12:45 PM	#3
ezerasurfr Moved On Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 663	get a shark...then your fish wont be hiding much longer j/k I would get rid of the vlamigni imo, he's already too big for a 240 and still isnt at potential max growth. To solve your problem with the other tangs, I would remove both and place them in a QT with a piece of acrylic down the middle of the QT...this will allow them to see each but not get at each other..feed them at the same time so they know they get enough food in each others presence...3-4 weeks of this should make them buddies... Just my opinion...hope its something you can do. Good luck.

11/17/2011, 01:32 PM	#6
reeferdale Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 165	I agree the vlamigni is probably scaring the other fish, I wouldn't want to swim with a creature that big next to me, especially when I know that they want to eat me! take out the vlamigni and your other tangs may be ok now. Blues are pretty tough guys and they don't take $#%t from anyone. The main issue is that tangs with the same body shape typically, not always, will spar. I have had several yellow, scopus and koles, which are all similar with no problems, but a powder blue is going to try to be the boss

11/17/2011, 01:53 PM	#8
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Unfortunately this is just the hiearchy of nature, little fish hide from big fish, perhaps in the longer run, the smaller inhabitants will get used to the Vlamingi & realize it has no intention of eating them. Good luck, these situations to me are part of the trial & error it takes to build a functioning eco system, I enjoy the challenge & am consumed by the mystery of it all.

11/17/2011, 02:01 PM	#9
geaux xman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 3,279	i doubt the vlamingi has anything to do with anything at all. my friend has 2 huge and 2 medium size vlamingi in a 280g(6ft) and all his fish is out and about. __________________ - Miracles 180g 60x30x23" rimless FOWLR - Youtube video: Miracles 180g March 2013

11/27/2011, 08:35 PM	#10
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	hey thank you all for your info, I agree that if i take out the vlamigni, both tangs would be OK now, but I cant give away my vlamigni, he is happy, healthy and ive grown to like him alot, hopefully my other fish realizes that the vlamigni is an overgrown teddy bear that doesnt want to eat them thats that i guess. thanks for the info

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