Tang stabbed clown

CoralBeautyII · 09/03/2009, 05:48 PM

My beloved four year old Black Onyx Clown Beemo defends her corner from the other fish in the tank. They usually keep away, but today i notice Beemo has been stabbed and sliced in several places on her body.
She still wants to eat and she is still fending off the tangs, i dont know why all of a sudden this happened? they have been together for years.
My only guess is maybe she laid eggs and i didnt notice and the tangs ate the eggs? Beemo has two male mates.
Will her wounds heal? as long as shes eating?
I put fresh carbon in the tank but im not sure if that would do anything for wounds
Ive had this fish for so long, it would be horrible to lose her this way. She cant be removed, i think that alone would kill her

CoralBeautyII · 09/03/2009, 06:03 PM

I took a few pics, its staring to look swollen, his fins are also torn and beaten. He was so perfect just yesterday, and hes still fighting the tangs making him get more beat up

the yellow tangs seem to be doing the most damage, they always mind their own business but Beemo attacking them, well tangs are tangs they aint dumb, their gonna fight back
he has a gash on his black snout too which i couldnt photograph.

clownaround2 · 09/03/2009, 06:17 PM

Sorry to hear about your fish fighting. That's always nerve-racking to watch. If I see any stress signs on my fish, I'll give them garlic with their food. There are different opinions on this method, but it works for me. Hopefully your fish will get better.

RealReef7 · 09/03/2009, 06:21 PM

clowns are tough fish. he/she should be fine.

CoralBeautyII · 09/03/2009, 06:24 PM

Thanks, i hope so

i think i have a bottle of garlic left, would vitamin C help too?
i was watching for a little bit, things seem a tiny bit calmer, maybe because i was there, but i did notice Nathan my blue hippo tang that went nuts after Beemo tried to chase him off. Nathan is pretty big and he went after Beemo and Beemo got a little scared and hid in his mushroom..so maybe hes learning, i hope
what exactly do tang stabs do? does it pack venom or anything like that? toxic?
i just hope he doesnt get his eye cut..im getting a bit shaky over this

jjk_reef00 · 09/03/2009, 07:00 PM

Wow that is some clown fish you have, fighting tangs!
I had a clown that was cut up bad by another clown (beginner mistake) and he recovered fine with just flake food. Realreef7 is right, clowns are tough and he will be fine. Especially if you feed him vitamin C and garlic.

CoralBeautyII · 09/03/2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jjk_reef00
Wow that is some clown fish you have, fighting tangs!
I had a clown that was cut up bad by another clown (beginner mistake) and he recovered fine with just flake food. Realreef7 is right, clowns are tough and he will be fine. Especially if you feed him vitamin C and garlic.

that makes me feel better

i soaked flake food in vit C and garlic, she ate it, shes not even acting like shes cut, must have a strong pain threshold like a pitbull lol
i dont know what made her go balistic like that

Shane Hoffman · 09/03/2009, 07:10 PM

I have used off the shelf fin and wound treatment. I cant remember the brand but it is carried at about every pet store. Also I think API makes some stuff with aloe in it that is recommended for saltwater fish.....

oldtank · 09/03/2009, 07:11 PM

It could be too many fish in such a small space. If you want clowns to be happy and breed, you put them in thier own tank. So, maybe they are stressed

CoralBeautyII · 09/03/2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by oldtank
It could be too many fish in such a small space. If you want clowns to be happy and breed, you put them in thier own tank. So, maybe they are stressed

I dont know why all the fish seem to gather in that area, the clowns never leave that spot, the male orange clowns havent picked a fight or went after other fish, its just the female for some reason, maybe shes about to lay eggs or allready has, im not sure, but the other fish have had a bit of an interest all of a sudden in the clown area, so is it possible some eggs have been laid and got eaten?
The tank is 6 feet long, 24 inches wide and 32 inches tall, 220 gallons, i think the clowns need a 20 foot tank lol

robs.mark · 09/03/2009, 07:35 PM

Have they an anemone? tangs wont get them in there!

CoralBeautyII · 09/03/2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by robs.mark
Have they an anemone? tangs wont get them in there!

no

Beemo has been hosting the candy cane coral and lavendar mushrooms for four years. I tried an anemone once, she didnt even look at it, but it wasnt near her shrooms so maybe it was too far away from her? The anemone didnt do so well, it just kept getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared after several months.
The tank is too full now of corals to try again, im afraid an anemone would sting some of my corals. Beemo also pushes any new coral away from her area, not sure how she would react if i put an anmone close to her.

clownaround2 · 09/03/2009, 09:13 PM

Keep us posted.

Aquarist007 · 09/03/2009, 10:17 PM

how many fish do you have in that tank now and how many tangs?

CoralBeautyII · 09/04/2009, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
how many fish do you have in that tank now and how many tangs?

Its morning and i just checked on her, she is sleeping peacefully snuggled in her mushrooms with her mates. It will take a little while before they start moving (waking up) so i will check again later on to see if shes acting normal.

heres my fish list, its not alot of fish i dont think for a 220g, but i do have alot of tangs. they have all been in the same tank for years now, but Beemo just changed her attitude, and tangs arent about to back down. i hope it was just this one incident and things will calm down again

stock list, bare bottom tank, fuge, soft and lps corals, i dont remember how many pounds of live rock..its a little under 300 lbs i think

9" naso tang
7" hippo tang
4" yellow tang their are three of them
4" lavendar tang
3" full grown royal gramma
2" strawberry psuedochromis(?)
3" mandarin
2" green chromis three of them
2" male ocellaris tank raised two of them
3.5" female black onyx ocellaris tank raised

along with the typical cleanup crew, cleaner shrimp, sally litefoot crab, large black brittle stars

A.VOID · 09/04/2009, 07:41 AM

ha, mine get tweaked about once every 6 mos. It always looks nasty, but they always pull through without big issue.

It's always my male that gets nabbed.

clownaround2 · 09/04/2009, 07:44 AM

Just wondering, how do your 3 yellow tangs get along? I always assumed, one yellow to a tank is the rule of thumb, unless the tank has allot of gallons. Could the tangs be fighting with each other and the clown is in the way and ends up getting hurt? Don't know...just trying to help.

PrangeWay · 09/04/2009, 07:50 AM

This happens (though not as bad) to my clowns occasionally. They get territorial and threaten/swipe at the Tang. And of course the Tang being bigger and a bit cocky normally teaches them a quick lesson in size/power. I think it's somewhat natural, eventually the clown will learn...

PW

CoralBeautyII · 09/04/2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by clownaround2
Just wondering, how do your 3 yellow tangs get along? I always assumed, one yellow to a tank is the rule of thumb, unless the tank has allot of gallons. Could the tangs be fighting with each other and the clown is in the way and ends up getting hurt? Don't know...just trying to help.

The three yellow tangs have been buddies for two years up until the past few weeks they have started to pick on/attack one yellow tang out of the blue.
The yellow tang they are picking on is kinda "off" not sure how to phrase this, but hes semi retarded. I got them all at the same time, they are from the same batch and they all grew to be the same size, but this one "off" fellow has always swimmed funny, like crooked and wobbly and hes a bit slower that the others, he eats just fine and he gets around with no problem, but he cannot fight back or just chooses not to because of his handicap.
He has been banished to live in the rocks, and yep you got it, the rock this tard tang hangs out in is the rock right behind Beemo's area.
So the two yellow tangs are probably trying to get to the one "off" tang in and around this rock...sending Beemo into a fit.
Thanks for bringing that up, it didnt click until you said it lol
I will keep a close eye on those tangs to see if they are indeed picking on the "off" fellow in the rock

sra127 · 09/04/2009, 08:17 AM

i have a b&w clown that whoops up on my yellow tang. is the tang comes newhere near her house(s) (3 weso brains and a bubble mushroom) the female attacks and when the yellow turn to hit her, the male hits the tang from the other side. they tag team the tang and s/he runs away....

DamnPepShrimp · 09/04/2009, 09:04 AM

Your clown will be fine, mine nearly got ripped in half by either a sohal or a brazilian dragon moray, and he healed up in a week. My tomato clown was 10x worse then yours, so no doubt it will be ok, as long as the aggressive doesn't continue.

sanababit · 09/04/2009, 09:15 AM

clowns are tought little fishes, they always pull thru, good luck

sana

CoralBeautyII · 09/04/2009, 09:29 AM

well glad to hear its happend to other clowns and they did ok, thats encouraging.
i just looked on her and she seems fine, still got the boo boo's but shes eating, and she still looks mad lol

smoothdog · 09/04/2009, 11:07 AM

As long as Beemo is healthy (and it sounds like it from the way she's acting

) she should heal up just fine. I would NOT add anything you don't already add to the tank. I would have a plan in place to get her out of the tank if the aggression continues. Once aggression starts there is always a possibility that it won't stop and if it doesn't then somebody is going to come out of the tank one way or the other.

On a side note, Nice Lavender Tang!

and as a little encouragement, here is a pic of mine with the scar he got when my flame angel opened up his side (with good conditions they really are quite resillient)

CoralBeautyII · 09/04/2009, 11:22 AM

smoothdog your lavender is gorgeous! i must have a drab female lol
do they develop more vivid colors as they age?

09/03/2009, 05:48 PM	#1
CoralBeautyII Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PA Posts: 586	Tang stabbed clown My beloved four year old Black Onyx Clown Beemo defends her corner from the other fish in the tank. They usually keep away, but today i notice Beemo has been stabbed and sliced in several places on her body. She still wants to eat and she is still fending off the tangs, i dont know why all of a sudden this happened? they have been together for years. My only guess is maybe she laid eggs and i didnt notice and the tangs ate the eggs? Beemo has two male mates. Will her wounds heal? as long as shes eating? I put fresh carbon in the tank but im not sure if that would do anything for wounds Ive had this fish for so long, it would be horrible to lose her this way. She cant be removed, i think that alone would kill her

09/03/2009, 06:24 PM	#5
CoralBeautyII Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PA Posts: 586	Thanks, i hope so i think i have a bottle of garlic left, would vitamin C help too? i was watching for a little bit, things seem a tiny bit calmer, maybe because i was there, but i did notice Nathan my blue hippo tang that went nuts after Beemo tried to chase him off. Nathan is pretty big and he went after Beemo and Beemo got a little scared and hid in his mushroom..so maybe hes learning, i hope what exactly do tang stabs do? does it pack venom or anything like that? toxic? i just hope he doesnt get his eye cut..im getting a bit shaky over this __________________ 70 Gallon Cube. 90+ lbs Fiji Live Rock. 8x HO T5's, MP10. Inhabitants~Soft Corals, LPS, few SPS

09/03/2009, 07:00 PM	#6
jjk_reef00 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,476	Wow that is some clown fish you have, fighting tangs! I had a clown that was cut up bad by another clown (beginner mistake) and he recovered fine with just flake food. Realreef7 is right, clowns are tough and he will be fine. Especially if you feed him vitamin C and garlic. __________________ I need more fish tank appliances! --Ed Current Tank Info: 375 FOWLR

09/03/2009, 07:10 PM	#8
Shane Hoffman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 45 mins from Chicago Posts: 2,009	I have used off the shelf fin and wound treatment. I cant remember the brand but it is carried at about every pet store. Also I think API makes some stuff with aloe in it that is recommended for saltwater fish..... __________________ A wise man once said "Never play leap frog with a unicorn" Current Tank Info: 150 gallon glass with 20 gallon sump, 175lbs of coraline covered live rock, EuroReef skimmer rated for 250gal, 25watt Aqua UV sterilizer, Fluval FX5, Hamilton 3x250watt MH, 160 watt Blue actinic....Mixed reef

09/03/2009, 07:35 PM	#11
robs.mark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,461	Have they an anemone? tangs wont get them in there! __________________ knowledge is power! Current Tank Info: Lagoon

09/03/2009, 06:03 PM	#2
CoralBeautyII Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PA Posts: 586	I took a few pics, its staring to look swollen, his fins are also torn and beaten. He was so perfect just yesterday, and hes still fighting the tangs making him get more beat up the yellow tangs seem to be doing the most damage, they always mind their own business but Beemo attacking them, well tangs are tangs they aint dumb, their gonna fight back he has a gash on his black snout too which i couldnt photograph.

09/03/2009, 06:17 PM	#3
clownaround2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 174	Sorry to hear about your fish fighting. That's always nerve-racking to watch. If I see any stress signs on my fish, I'll give them garlic with their food. There are different opinions on this method, but it works for me. Hopefully your fish will get better.

09/03/2009, 06:21 PM	#4
RealReef7 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: bikini island Posts: 954	clowns are tough fish. he/she should be fine.

09/03/2009, 07:11 PM	#9
oldtank Moved On Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 12	It could be too many fish in such a small space. If you want clowns to be happy and breed, you put them in thier own tank. So, maybe they are stressed

09/03/2009, 09:13 PM	#13
clownaround2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 174	Keep us posted.

09/03/2009, 10:17 PM	#14
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	how many fish do you have in that tank now and how many tangs? __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

09/04/2009, 07:41 AM	#16
A.VOID Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 985	ha, mine get tweaked about once every 6 mos. It always looks nasty, but they always pull through without big issue. It's always my male that gets nabbed.

09/04/2009, 07:44 AM	#17
clownaround2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 174	Just wondering, how do your 3 yellow tangs get along? I always assumed, one yellow to a tank is the rule of thumb, unless the tank has allot of gallons. Could the tangs be fighting with each other and the clown is in the way and ends up getting hurt? Don't know...just trying to help.

09/04/2009, 07:50 AM	#18
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	This happens (though not as bad) to my clowns occasionally. They get territorial and threaten/swipe at the Tang. And of course the Tang being bigger and a bit cocky normally teaches them a quick lesson in size/power. I think it's somewhat natural, eventually the clown will learn... PW __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"

09/04/2009, 08:17 AM	#20
sra127 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl Posts: 673	i have a b&w clown that whoops up on my yellow tang. is the tang comes newhere near her house(s) (3 weso brains and a bubble mushroom) the female attacks and when the yellow turn to hit her, the male hits the tang from the other side. they tag team the tang and s/he runs away.... __________________ 90 Gallon, 30 Gallon Fuge, Octo 150 DNWB, 18 Watt UV, Carbon and Phosban, MP 40, 2 Icecap 660's running 6 T5's, Lots of coral, PBT, Naso, Yellow, Pair of B&W Clowns, Purple Firefish, Sixline and Radiant Wrasse 14 Gallon Nano, 150 HQI, Lots of frags, Clam, 1 Rainford goby needing a buddy.... Current Tank Info: 300 gallon custom tank.

09/04/2009, 09:04 AM	#21
DamnPepShrimp Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 5,152	Your clown will be fine, mine nearly got ripped in half by either a sohal or a brazilian dragon moray, and he healed up in a week. My tomato clown was 10x worse then yours, so no doubt it will be ok, as long as the aggressive doesn't continue.

09/04/2009, 09:15 AM	#22
sanababit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uranus Posts: 3,094	clowns are tought little fishes, they always pull thru, good luck sana __________________ Senior Member of the "Hardly any Water Changes, Temp Swinging, T5ing, No Qtining, Frag Exchanging for Fish Food Current Tank Info: 90RR inwall, Octopuss Skimmer, 2 MP40 wQD, 1 MP10 WQD, 2 Radions G4 Pro, Apex Doser, Apex Controller, 400w heater, 30 Gal Sump, Biopellets, Carbon, Gfo, Macroalgae

09/04/2009, 09:29 AM	#23
CoralBeautyII Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PA Posts: 586	well glad to hear its happend to other clowns and they did ok, thats encouraging. i just looked on her and she seems fine, still got the boo boo's but shes eating, and she still looks mad lol

09/04/2009, 11:07 AM	#24
smoothdog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 4,916	As long as Beemo is healthy (and it sounds like it from the way she's acting ) she should heal up just fine. I would NOT add anything you don't already add to the tank. I would have a plan in place to get her out of the tank if the aggression continues. Once aggression starts there is always a possibility that it won't stop and if it doesn't then somebody is going to come out of the tank one way or the other. On a side note, Nice Lavender Tang! and as a little encouragement, here is a pic of mine with the scar he got when my flame angel opened up his side (with good conditions they really are quite resillient) __________________ Everything's better with Bacon! Current Tank Info: 150DD SPS dominant mixed reef. 100g sump/fuge, 6'x28"x12" frag tank, Diablo xs200 skimmer, Apex controller, Custom GEO 824 calcium reactor, panworld 200PS return pump. Lumenmax Elite reflector with Radium 250HQI bulb and 3 AI 32 HDs.

09/04/2009, 11:22 AM	#25
CoralBeautyII Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PA Posts: 586	smoothdog your lavender is gorgeous! i must have a drab female lol do they develop more vivid colors as they age? __________________ 70 Gallon Cube. 90+ lbs Fiji Live Rock. 8x HO T5's, MP10. Inhabitants~Soft Corals, LPS, few SPS