HELP! Sailfin Vs. Achilles

hulley · 02/05/2006, 06:58 PM

I bought a 4" achilles today, and my smaller sailfin is getting in his buisness! Sailfin doesnt bother him when they eat, only after. No fin nipping but the sailfin is always pestering the Achilles! Will this stop? or should I remove the sailfin? I love this achilles dearly. One of the reasons I got in this hobby.

1package · 02/05/2006, 07:46 PM

With no food competition, the Sailfin may leave him alone.

I would predict that if the achilles makes it, no stress related poblems, eats, etc.....he will eventually whip up on the sailfin.

hulley · 02/05/2006, 07:51 PM

He looks very good! great coloring, eats like a champ! I dripped him for two hours! Please God! let him make it!

reefshadow · 02/06/2006, 12:10 AM

Hi, Hully-

I just bought my first achilles last week- Had the same problem with a resident YT- In my case I have a low fish load so I went down and bought another YT to take some of the heat off the achilles. Worked a treat and now they are all getting along great.

This prob. wouldn't work for you though, 3 tangs in a 90 is pushing it alot imo, but you could try a few things. Maybe tape a mirror to the outside of the glass, and reaquascape a bit. If you could put some macros in there too it might help eliminate some of the food competition.

If none of this works seriously consider removing the resident sailfin for a week or more, then put it back in. You could make a very cheap holding tank with a rubbermaid tub, powerhead,and a few pieces of live rock.

Constant harassing can stress a fish to death, esp one as sensitive as an achilles.

This was my dream fish too, i love it!

Jim_S · 02/06/2006, 12:16 AM

I added a Sohal and a PBT at the same time to my tank. They were both the same size. I have heard the Achilles tempermant is similar to the PBT's. Anyways, the PBT would not stop pestering the Sohal. After time (5 months) I decided it was better to get rid of the Sohal, so I sold it to a local reefer.

edit: wow, 1000 posts!

Jim

Blu50Stang · 02/06/2006, 12:27 AM

I had a Sohal and a Red Sea Sailfin together for about a year. They were introduced at the same time and got along for about 5 months. One day, I noticed the Sailfin was cut up pretty badly so I fed them more(though they never fought for food). After a couple days, they began to get along again. So I just watched them for a while. They got along for another 6 or 7 months before the Sohal began beating up on the Sailfin again. This time, they never stopped. I ended up taking the Sohal to the LFS. The owner told me he came back twice(killed atleast 3 fish).

Good luck.

integlikewhoa · 02/06/2006, 01:33 AM

I added a hippo last to a tank with a sailfin and a yellow. The hippo and the sailfin dont get along. They never bite but they chase each other and push each other into the holes in the rock work with their tails. One is going to have to go. But no ick from stress or no cut tails so i havent rushed the problem yet.

zemuron114 · 02/06/2006, 02:28 AM

if there is no nipping and the achilles still eats, then i wouldn't worry about. My main concern would be the achilles getting ich... achilles are ICH magnets.

hulley · 02/06/2006, 06:53 AM

Well, this morning the odd couple seem to be getting along! Achilles ate this morning with no trouble from the sailfin. I know the 90g is kinda small for these fish, but I'm buying a bigger tank very soon! I'm gonna find a home for my sailfin. I also have a Emperor and fully prepared to have the Emp and Achilles as my only "big" fish. They should be just fine in a 210 or 240!

know-it-all · 02/06/2006, 07:38 AM

my sailfin, which was added last, was constantly "mixing it up"
with my Scopas tang, which is 2x his size, for the first month
it was pertty bad the first couple days,
and I was glad they collectors took it's tail spins out.

after 3 months, they still get into it, but it only last for seconds

I think the sailfins are more like the yellow's in temper
OK with other fish, but may not like to share a tank with other tangs

hulley · 02/06/2006, 06:39 PM

Well, I just got home and the two seem to be getting along just fine! The Achilles still eats like a champ and is quite active! He looks very good! Looks like I'm getting a 180g here in about 2-3 weeks. I'll leave it up and running for a while befor I move the fish over. Boy, what a stressful day! I think I'm more stressed than the Achilles!

DamageInc · 02/06/2006, 07:22 PM

Just in case, you better sell me that achilles! lol

hulley · 02/06/2006, 08:57 PM

No Way! I'm not sure what I like most, My Emporer or the Achilles! They both are here to stay!

02/05/2006, 06:58 PM	#1
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	HELP! Sailfin Vs. Achilles I bought a 4" achilles today, and my smaller sailfin is getting in his buisness! Sailfin doesnt bother him when they eat, only after. No fin nipping but the sailfin is always pestering the Achilles! Will this stop? or should I remove the sailfin? I love this achilles dearly. One of the reasons I got in this hobby.

02/06/2006, 12:10 AM	#4
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Hi, Hully- I just bought my first achilles last week- Had the same problem with a resident YT- In my case I have a low fish load so I went down and bought another YT to take some of the heat off the achilles. Worked a treat and now they are all getting along great. This prob. wouldn't work for you though, 3 tangs in a 90 is pushing it alot imo, but you could try a few things. Maybe tape a mirror to the outside of the glass, and reaquascape a bit. If you could put some macros in there too it might help eliminate some of the food competition. If none of this works seriously consider removing the resident sailfin for a week or more, then put it back in. You could make a very cheap holding tank with a rubbermaid tub, powerhead,and a few pieces of live rock. Constant harassing can stress a fish to death, esp one as sensitive as an achilles. This was my dream fish too, i love it! __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

02/06/2006, 12:16 AM	#5
Jim_S Timo Boll Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,333	I added a Sohal and a PBT at the same time to my tank. They were both the same size. I have heard the Achilles tempermant is similar to the PBT's. Anyways, the PBT would not stop pestering the Sohal. After time (5 months) I decided it was better to get rid of the Sohal, so I sold it to a local reefer. edit: wow, 1000 posts! Jim __________________ We will survive in this world of competition, shooting guns and our ammunition... Bradley Nowell Current Tank Info: We're recreating the ocean in our livings rooms. With that said, I've had some ups and downs.

02/06/2006, 12:27 AM	#6
Blu50Stang Nobody Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 511	I had a Sohal and a Red Sea Sailfin together for about a year. They were introduced at the same time and got along for about 5 months. One day, I noticed the Sailfin was cut up pretty badly so I fed them more(though they never fought for food). After a couple days, they began to get along again. So I just watched them for a while. They got along for another 6 or 7 months before the Sohal began beating up on the Sailfin again. This time, they never stopped. I ended up taking the Sohal to the LFS. The owner told me he came back twice(killed atleast 3 fish). Good luck. __________________ -Ross

02/06/2006, 01:33 AM	#7
integlikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 1,381	I added a hippo last to a tank with a sailfin and a yellow. The hippo and the sailfin dont get along. They never bite but they chase each other and push each other into the holes in the rock work with their tails. One is going to have to go. But no ick from stress or no cut tails so i havent rushed the problem yet. __________________ I think of one later. Current Tank Info: 28G JBJ Nano for sale

02/05/2006, 07:46 PM	#2
1package Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WV Posts: 975	With no food competition, the Sailfin may leave him alone. I would predict that if the achilles makes it, no stress related poblems, eats, etc.....he will eventually whip up on the sailfin.

02/05/2006, 07:51 PM	#3
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	He looks very good! great coloring, eats like a champ! I dripped him for two hours! Please God! let him make it!

02/06/2006, 02:28 AM	#8
zemuron114 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pilgrim State (Mass) Posts: 4,039	if there is no nipping and the achilles still eats, then i wouldn't worry about. My main concern would be the achilles getting ich... achilles are ICH magnets.

02/06/2006, 06:53 AM	#9
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Well, this morning the odd couple seem to be getting along! Achilles ate this morning with no trouble from the sailfin. I know the 90g is kinda small for these fish, but I'm buying a bigger tank very soon! I'm gonna find a home for my sailfin. I also have a Emperor and fully prepared to have the Emp and Achilles as my only "big" fish. They should be just fine in a 210 or 240!

02/06/2006, 07:38 AM	#10
know-it-all Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: in my now frozen chair (aka Wisconsin) Posts: 1,488	my sailfin, which was added last, was constantly "mixing it up" with my Scopas tang, which is 2x his size, for the first month it was pertty bad the first couple days, and I was glad they collectors took it's tail spins out. after 3 months, they still get into it, but it only last for seconds I think the sailfins are more like the yellow's in temper OK with other fish, but may not like to share a tank with other tangs __________________ current tank 94 corner, SPS/LPS basement sump

02/06/2006, 06:39 PM	#11
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	Well, I just got home and the two seem to be getting along just fine! The Achilles still eats like a champ and is quite active! He looks very good! Looks like I'm getting a 180g here in about 2-3 weeks. I'll leave it up and running for a while befor I move the fish over. Boy, what a stressful day! I think I'm more stressed than the Achilles!

02/06/2006, 07:22 PM	#12
DamageInc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: WPB, Florida Posts: 162	Just in case, you better sell me that achilles! lol

02/06/2006, 08:57 PM	#13
hulley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In front of my computor. Posts: 592	No Way! I'm not sure what I like most, My Emporer or the Achilles! They both are here to stay!