Last night...a Murder. Today...need advice

Fishy Business · 11/05/2006, 04:15 PM

Last night, I found my Sally lightfoot crab eating my Midas Blenny. First off, that sucks. The Sally was (returned to LFS) apprx the size of a silver dollar (including its legs) and never acted aggressive to the ofther livestock. I do realize that this is the crabs natural instinct to eat fish (one day anyway) but I assumed it was still too young/small. My Blenny was apprx 6-7 inches long. Before anyone asks...all my levels/parameters are fine. I watched the crab "hang out" near where the Blenny would perch but never thought this have happened. Anyway, RIP "Blondie".

So last night, I returned my Sally (for credit and safety of the others) and purchased a Midas Blenny. This time, the Blenny is approx 1 inch long (very small in comparison) and since I've added him, my Purple Dottyback will NOT let him come out of the hole in the rock. This has gone on all day. Literally, all day. Do you think the Midas will come out and play once it feels established or is this a sign of another pre- mediated murder

bertoni · 11/07/2006, 12:54 AM

Dottyback fishes are known to be aggressive. I suspect the Midas blenny won't make it, but you could try a few days.

Tripspike · 11/07/2006, 09:09 AM

Just curious....are you sure the fish was alive when Sally got hold of it..or perhaps it was dead or close to death when she got it.

Trip

techreef · 11/07/2006, 10:37 AM

i think a 6" fish would whack the crap out of a 1.5" crab. i'd be more suspicious of other aggressive fish in the tank that maybe hassled the midas blenny.

Sk8r · 11/07/2006, 10:41 AM

Dottybacks are very aggressive, pound for pound. It's on my list of suspect fish in any unsolved crime. Your best hope for keeping that dottyback is to catch it, put it in qt for a week, then reintroduce it.

11/05/2006, 04:15 PM	#1
Fishy Business Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 537	Last night...a Murder. Today...need advice Last night, I found my Sally lightfoot crab eating my Midas Blenny. First off, that sucks. The Sally was (returned to LFS) apprx the size of a silver dollar (including its legs) and never acted aggressive to the ofther livestock. I do realize that this is the crabs natural instinct to eat fish (one day anyway) but I assumed it was still too young/small. My Blenny was apprx 6-7 inches long. Before anyone asks...all my levels/parameters are fine. I watched the crab "hang out" near where the Blenny would perch but never thought this have happened. Anyway, RIP "Blondie". So last night, I returned my Sally (for credit and safety of the others) and purchased a Midas Blenny. This time, the Blenny is approx 1 inch long (very small in comparison) and since I've added him, my Purple Dottyback will NOT let him come out of the hole in the rock. This has gone on all day. Literally, all day. Do you think the Midas will come out and play once it feels established or is this a sign of another pre- mediated murder __________________ Here to pick your brain and pick-pocket myself at the same time.

11/07/2006, 12:54 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Dottyback fishes are known to be aggressive. I suspect the Midas blenny won't make it, but you could try a few days. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/07/2006, 10:41 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Dottybacks are very aggressive, pound for pound. It's on my list of suspect fish in any unsolved crime. Your best hope for keeping that dottyback is to catch it, put it in qt for a week, then reintroduce it. __________________ 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%.

11/07/2006, 09:09 AM	#3
Tripspike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bristol, CT Posts: 875	Just curious....are you sure the fish was alive when Sally got hold of it..or perhaps it was dead or close to death when she got it. Trip

11/07/2006, 10:37 AM	#4
techreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 1,046	i think a 6" fish would whack the crap out of a 1.5" crab. i'd be more suspicious of other aggressive fish in the tank that maybe hassled the midas blenny.