Help with aggression. Is this a terrible idea?

BlackTip · 09/14/2015, 07:53 AM

In QT: A Goby, a Firfish, A Flasher Wrasse, a Granma, A Starry Bleny, and a Yellowhead Jawfish.

They have been in the QT for 3 weeks. They went through one round of Parazi Pro, and another round in process. No TTM.

The Bleny developed aggression specifically toward the Jawfish. I rearranged the pipes and stuff in the tank, but it didn't help.

This morning, he chased the Jawfish biting on her tail. She jumped out of the tank from a tiny 1/4" gap around the HOB filter. I was there and saw it, and I rescued the Jawfish from the floor. She would have been dead, if I weren't' there.

I turn the light off now most of the time, and turn it on a little before feeding. That when the attack happened.

I didn't see any ich on any of the fish nor any other disease.

Will be a terrible idea to transfer the Jawfish to the DT?

There is no fish in the DT. Just some corals and snails.

If it is not a good idea, any other recommendations? I don't want to start another QT tank, and I don't want to loose the Jawfish.

Thanks,

Sk8r · 09/14/2015, 09:11 AM

Frankly, I would: if she develops ich or dies, you have to continue qt for 72 days (to let the main tank cure out) but I'd move her.

Sugar Magnolia · 09/14/2015, 09:22 AM

The problem is that they are similarly shaped fish so it's normal for that to happen. Blennies can get pretty aggressive too. I'm with Sk8r, put the jawfish into the DT and let it find it's place in the tank.

BlackTip · 09/14/2015, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Frankly, I would: if she develops ich or dies, you have to continue qt for 72 days (to let the main tank cure out) but I'd move her.

OK, Thanks.
The SG in the QT is 1.019 and the SG in the DT is 1.025. What is the safest way to acclimate her to the higher SG? Is drip-acclimate for 30 min good?

hotelbravo · 09/14/2015, 09:40 AM

Usually you would want to have a slower acclimation period for moving up in salinity.

Sk8r · 09/14/2015, 11:13 AM

BEcause there is no closed bag involved, ergo no buildup of co2 and ammonium ergo no co2 release ergo shift of ph in the process that would convert ammonium to ammonia, which is what kills fish in extended acclimation---go for a small holding vessel with jump precaution (a mixing bowl, eg, with a screen atop, and acclimate over say 45 minutes to an hour. This poor fish is stressed and needs dim light and gentle handling.

BlackTip · 09/15/2015, 07:59 AM

So, I moved the Jawfish to the DT yesterday, and she is doing well....

She hid in the rocks for an hour or so, then she started making a barrow in a cave. Half way through, she abandoned it and chose different location. Prior to bringing her home, I bought an extra 20 lbs bag of sand. I create areas with deep sand bed in the tank. I put some small PVC pipes in areas, and I grinned some rocks and scattered them around the dunes and the PVC pipes for her to make a home. No, she didn't touch any of that, and she decide in a totally different location.

It was fascinating watching her building the barrow. She kept on grabbing a hermit crab with an oversized shell to use in building her barrow thinking it is a shell. He kept on running away, and she kept on grabbing him back.

I am glad she is happy and away from jackass (Starry Bleny)

Shawn O · 09/15/2015, 09:24 AM

It could help the jawfish to add in a bunch of odd ocean stuff for it to build it's burrow. Rock rubble, snail shells, sand dollars (dead), clam shells, broken bits of dead coral skeleton, etc. If you can find some, take a hammer to some large clam shells and then sand the sharp edges off. Coarse gravel will even be used if you care to throw in a handful.

BlackTip · 09/15/2015, 09:56 AM

I crushed a small rock and scattered it around her barrow, and she used it all. I will need to find a nice flat shell for her to use as a cover.

Sk8r · 09/15/2015, 10:26 AM

She probably will have no problem with the starry once everybody gets into the large tank. Aggression is usually a function of tank size. Smaller the tank, the higher the panic level.

hotelbravo · 09/15/2015, 01:36 PM

Are they going into the 325?

BlackTip · 09/15/2015, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotelbravo

Are they going into the 325?

Yes, but this problem solved. Thanks

hotelbravo · 09/15/2015, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BalckTip

Yes, but this problem solved. Thanks

Well I knew it was solved Ive been following the thread I just was wondering if you had any pictures.. Im planning my next upgrade and trying to decide on tank size.

09/14/2015, 07:53 AM	#1
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	Help with aggression. Is this a terrible idea? In QT: A Goby, a Firfish, A Flasher Wrasse, a Granma, A Starry Bleny, and a Yellowhead Jawfish. They have been in the QT for 3 weeks. They went through one round of Parazi Pro, and another round in process. No TTM. The Bleny developed aggression specifically toward the Jawfish. I rearranged the pipes and stuff in the tank, but it didn't help. This morning, he chased the Jawfish biting on her tail. She jumped out of the tank from a tiny 1/4" gap around the HOB filter. I was there and saw it, and I rescued the Jawfish from the floor. She would have been dead, if I weren't' there. I turn the light off now most of the time, and turn it on a little before feeding. That when the attack happened. I didn't see any ich on any of the fish nor any other disease. Will be a terrible idea to transfer the Jawfish to the DT? There is no fish in the DT. Just some corals and snails. If it is not a good idea, any other recommendations? I don't want to start another QT tank, and I don't want to loose the Jawfish. Thanks, __________________ 325G DT. 100G sump. In-sump refugium. SRO-5000SSS. 2 Gyres 150. 2 Water Blaster HY-5000. 2 Razor 320W. Apex Gold. MR2 GFO. 2 800W Heaters. Tunze Osmolater. 2 20g-long QT tanks. Geo 624 CA. 80W UV

09/14/2015, 09:11 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Frankly, I would: if she develops ich or dies, you have to continue qt for 72 days (to let the main tank cure out) but I'd move her. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/14/2015, 09:22 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	The problem is that they are similarly shaped fish so it's normal for that to happen. Blennies can get pretty aggressive too. I'm with Sk8r, put the jawfish into the DT and let it find it's place in the tank. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/14/2015, 09:40 AM	#5
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	Usually you would want to have a slower acclimation period for moving up in salinity. __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.

09/14/2015, 11:13 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	BEcause there is no closed bag involved, ergo no buildup of co2 and ammonium ergo no co2 release ergo shift of ph in the process that would convert ammonium to ammonia, which is what kills fish in extended acclimation---go for a small holding vessel with jump precaution (a mixing bowl, eg, with a screen atop, and acclimate over say 45 minutes to an hour. This poor fish is stressed and needs dim light and gentle handling. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/15/2015, 07:59 AM	#7
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	So, I moved the Jawfish to the DT yesterday, and she is doing well.... She hid in the rocks for an hour or so, then she started making a barrow in a cave. Half way through, she abandoned it and chose different location. Prior to bringing her home, I bought an extra 20 lbs bag of sand. I create areas with deep sand bed in the tank. I put some small PVC pipes in areas, and I grinned some rocks and scattered them around the dunes and the PVC pipes for her to make a home. No, she didn't touch any of that, and she decide in a totally different location. It was fascinating watching her building the barrow. She kept on grabbing a hermit crab with an oversized shell to use in building her barrow thinking it is a shell. He kept on running away, and she kept on grabbing him back. I am glad she is happy and away from jackass (Starry Bleny) __________________ 325G DT. 100G sump. In-sump refugium. SRO-5000SSS. 2 Gyres 150. 2 Water Blaster HY-5000. 2 Razor 320W. Apex Gold. MR2 GFO. 2 800W Heaters. Tunze Osmolater. 2 20g-long QT tanks. Geo 624 CA. 80W UV

09/15/2015, 09:24 AM	#8
Shawn O Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,474	It could help the jawfish to add in a bunch of odd ocean stuff for it to build it's burrow. Rock rubble, snail shells, sand dollars (dead), clam shells, broken bits of dead coral skeleton, etc. If you can find some, take a hammer to some large clam shells and then sand the sharp edges off. Coarse gravel will even be used if you care to throw in a handful. __________________ "55gal glass box full of water, rocks and some not-so-amused little fishes" 2x Occellaris, 1 Pajama, 1 Neon Dottyback. Current Tank Info: 55gal tank, sumpless, ReefOctopus Classic 90, Twin bulb T5.

09/15/2015, 09:56 AM	#9
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	I crushed a small rock and scattered it around her barrow, and she used it all. I will need to find a nice flat shell for her to use as a cover. __________________ 325G DT. 100G sump. In-sump refugium. SRO-5000SSS. 2 Gyres 150. 2 Water Blaster HY-5000. 2 Razor 320W. Apex Gold. MR2 GFO. 2 800W Heaters. Tunze Osmolater. 2 20g-long QT tanks. Geo 624 CA. 80W UV

09/15/2015, 10:26 AM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	She probably will have no problem with the starry once everybody gets into the large tank. Aggression is usually a function of tank size. Smaller the tank, the higher the panic level. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/15/2015, 01:36 PM	#11
hotelbravo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,175	Are they going into the 325? __________________ -Hodge Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 40b sump. 3x OR T247 lighting, Reef Octopus protein skimmer, phosban 550 reactor, tunze ato, gyre xf 150, 2x mag 9.5 returns.