Should I remove my fish???

Crazy_Dane · 02/27/2012, 09:12 PM

I recently moved my 28 G into a 40 breeder. In the 28 I had a clown, chromie and dottyback. All got along, though the dottyback was clearly the queen bee. Now, however, in the larger tank the dottyback has turned super territorial. This evening I don't think the chromie has come out from its hiding place behind the skimmer. It is just getting worse. I have a Midas Blenny and a dwarf flame angel in my QT tank that will be ready for introduction into the DT in another week and a half.

This is my problem: first, I'm really worried about the dotty's behavior towards the two original fish. The chromie was my first fish and, although not super fancy, it has a special place in my heart. Secondly, I am even more worried that dotty will chase and kill my new additions when I introduce them (she already did this to a yellow watchman goby) So, should I attempt to catch the dotty and return her to the lfs. I hate doing it, and it makes me feel like a terrible person, but on the other hand I can't really accept a fish that seems to be going rogue on me. What should I do?!?!

SushiGirl · 02/27/2012, 09:57 PM

If you can catch it & return it, I would do so.

dzfish17 · 02/27/2012, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

If you can catch it & return it, I would do so.

+1 Most of the dottybacks can be very nasty towards other fish. Maybe look at getting a firefish instead.

Peter T · 02/28/2012, 12:06 AM

A route you may want to try is leaving the dottyback in the 28g until you add all your fish you want to stock in your 40g. After they have been introduced and settled, add the dottyback last into the 40g when every other fish has their territory established.

If that fails, I agree with the above posts.

Crazy_Dane · 02/29/2012, 08:35 PM

Well, this evening I found my clown lingering off kilter in the back corner with my chromie. He was breathing hard and did not eat when I added food. The dotty simply has the rest of the fish scared profanity removed! I easily caught him and put him into my QT, where he immediately started to swim around normally.

So, I tried to catch the dotty with a plastic bag, bait and string, and I failed miserably

does anybody have any other good ideas on how to get it out?? She is clever; reminds me of the raptor in Jurassic Park.

do_0b · 02/29/2012, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy_Dane

Well, this evening I found my clown lingering off kilter in the back corner with my chromie. He was breathing hard and did not eat when I added food. The dotty simply has the rest of the fish scared profanity removed! I easily caught him and put him into my QT, where he immediately started to swim around normally.

So, I tried to catch the dotty with a plastic bag, bait and string, and I failed miserably

does anybody have any other good ideas on how to get it out?? She is clever; reminds me of the raptor in Jurassic Park.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xbUEqv5Zqs

Sk8r · 02/29/2012, 09:49 PM

Dottybacks are one of the most difficult fish to catch. You may be able to do it with a wine carafe and some bait, but you have to stand by with a net---and it's just about one try per trick.
There's only one trick that will definitely get him: de-water your tank rapidly into a container (or several containers) after digging a fist sized hole in the left corner of your tank (if you're righthanded.) The fish will gather in the low spot as the water gets scarce. Net your choice. Rewater the tank rapidly---without kicking up the sandbed, which can kill the tank. Setting a mixing bowl on the sand and aiming the water at that can prevent it.
Good luck. I had to unbuild a reef to get a yellow dottyback out. There's no fish cannier.

Crazy_Dane · 03/02/2012, 08:44 AM

Well, got the dottyback out. I came home last night to find my hawkfish hiding under the skimmer and he would not eat (very odd behavior). Obviously the dotty was now terrorizing the entire tank. So I simply took out most of my LR and caught the bugger (glad I only have a 40 breeder!). Now I have a new rockscape, and I kind of like it better. A win-win situation :-)

02/27/2012, 09:12 PM	#1
Crazy_Dane Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 13	Should I remove my fish??? I recently moved my 28 G into a 40 breeder. In the 28 I had a clown, chromie and dottyback. All got along, though the dottyback was clearly the queen bee. Now, however, in the larger tank the dottyback has turned super territorial. This evening I don't think the chromie has come out from its hiding place behind the skimmer. It is just getting worse. I have a Midas Blenny and a dwarf flame angel in my QT tank that will be ready for introduction into the DT in another week and a half. This is my problem: first, I'm really worried about the dotty's behavior towards the two original fish. The chromie was my first fish and, although not super fancy, it has a special place in my heart. Secondly, I am even more worried that dotty will chase and kill my new additions when I introduce them (she already did this to a yellow watchman goby) So, should I attempt to catch the dotty and return her to the lfs. I hate doing it, and it makes me feel like a terrible person, but on the other hand I can't really accept a fish that seems to be going rogue on me. What should I do?!?!

02/27/2012, 09:57 PM	#2
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	If you can catch it & return it, I would do so. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

02/29/2012, 08:35 PM	#5
Crazy_Dane Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 13	Well, this evening I found my clown lingering off kilter in the back corner with my chromie. He was breathing hard and did not eat when I added food. The dotty simply has the rest of the fish scared profanity removed! I easily caught him and put him into my QT, where he immediately started to swim around normally. So, I tried to catch the dotty with a plastic bag, bait and string, and I failed miserably does anybody have any other good ideas on how to get it out?? She is clever; reminds me of the raptor in Jurassic Park. Last edited by BrianD; 02/29/2012 at 09:04 PM.

02/29/2012, 09:49 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Dottybacks are one of the most difficult fish to catch. You may be able to do it with a wine carafe and some bait, but you have to stand by with a net---and it's just about one try per trick. There's only one trick that will definitely get him: de-water your tank rapidly into a container (or several containers) after digging a fist sized hole in the left corner of your tank (if you're righthanded.) The fish will gather in the low spot as the water gets scarce. Net your choice. Rewater the tank rapidly---without kicking up the sandbed, which can kill the tank. Setting a mixing bowl on the sand and aiming the water at that can prevent it. Good luck. I had to unbuild a reef to get a yellow dottyback out. There's no fish cannier. __________________ 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%.

02/28/2012, 12:06 AM	#4
Peter T Gallantly Forward Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 563	A route you may want to try is leaving the dottyback in the 28g until you add all your fish you want to stock in your 40g. After they have been introduced and settled, add the dottyback last into the 40g when every other fish has their territory established. If that fails, I agree with the above posts.

03/02/2012, 08:44 AM	#8
Crazy_Dane Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 13	Well, got the dottyback out. I came home last night to find my hawkfish hiding under the skimmer and he would not eat (very odd behavior). Obviously the dotty was now terrorizing the entire tank. So I simply took out most of my LR and caught the bugger (glad I only have a 40 breeder!). Now I have a new rockscape, and I kind of like it better. A win-win situation :-)