Powder Blue not liking addition of Regal Angel :(

Albright · 08/31/2007, 06:31 PM

I just added a Regal Angel to my 120.

The tank had a pair of clownfish, a lawnmower blenny, and a powder blue tang who all got along great.

As soon as the Regal went in the PB started to chase it and hasn't stopped for 20 mins or so now.

The regal is larger than the PB.

Should I be worried or should they work it out? Is there anything specific I should watch for?

How long should I give them to settle it and at what point should I pull one of them out? I have no other tank I can house it in currently but could most likely bring either to the LFS tomrorow.

Thanks!

Albright · 08/31/2007, 06:40 PM

There is a lot of LR with a lot of hiding places however the tang is following him to them and not letting up.

Potsy · 08/31/2007, 06:41 PM

That's typical behavior for Acanthurus surgeonfish. Very territorial. Ideally, they should be the last fish added to an aquarium. Since the regal angel is a pretty timid, nervous fish, I'd keep a watchful eye for excessive stress levels and slash marks from the powder blue's blades. That powder blue might not let up on the harassment in a four foot tank.

tbar · 08/31/2007, 07:44 PM

I added a powder brown in my 75 gal with a yellow tang. The yellow had him pinned on the glass slapping him with his tail (barb). He (the yellow) spent the night in the sump and was taken to the LFS the next day.

Macimage · 08/31/2007, 07:56 PM

I'd return the Angel asap, as it's just not fair. How would you like to be locked in a room with someone beating you up all night?

As noted, powder blues are pretty aggresive and should be the last fish added.

Do you have a qt tank. You could even use a salt bucket witgh an airstone, some eggcrate to cover it and hopefully, a stable temperature.

Joyce

Albright · 08/31/2007, 08:05 PM

He seems to have backed off quite a bit. He passes by him from time to time but hasn't gone at him for a bit and his coloration which flared up quite a bit initially has toned down a lot. I'll continue to observe.

Albright · 08/31/2007, 08:06 PM

oops

Albright · 08/31/2007, 08:07 PM

double

edit: make that triple. I'm paying more attention to the tank than the buttons I'm clicking. Sorry for that.

Macimage · 08/31/2007, 08:49 PM

Glad to hear it looks like it is improving. I don't know what your lighting schedule is, but if you turn the lights off and observe them in the darkened room it will help.

Joyce

Albright · 08/31/2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Macimage
Glad to hear it looks like it is improving. I don't know what your lighting schedule is, but if you turn the lights off and observe them in the darkened room it will help.

Joyce

Thanks

It is a Solaris fixture. I have them dimmed down to 20% which is quite dark but enough to view them.

The agression has really subsided. The angel is in a spot under the rocks and the PBT is "patrolling" it but it is nothing like it was a few hours ago. He was literally attacking him. If its worse or not noticeably improved even more in the morning one of them is going to the LFS.

rollnheavy · 08/31/2007, 09:12 PM

i have to take my yellow and put him in the sump for a few days when i added a powder blue....put him back in and now they are friends
.

NanoGurl · 08/31/2007, 09:45 PM

Your PBT is doing your typical behavior. He will do that whenever you place something new into the tank. He will probably back off over the next day. However, you may have created a future problem with ich from stress now to your PBT. Keep an eye on him. If your PBT displays white bars or fast swimming and darts or chasing for more then a few days, you're going to have a lot of issues. Especially in a 4' tank. Goodluck!

Albright · 09/02/2007, 12:05 PM

Good news to report.

Yesterday he was backed off quite a bit. He would slowly chase the Regal back into his cave area from time to time and would only very occasionally give him a few bumps with his tail much more lightly than the night before. The Regal was poking his head out further and further throughout the day.

This morning I woke up to find the Regal out and exploring. I fed them some mysis and he was out and chasing them within a few seconds and eating quite happily along with the tang. The tang will occasionally move him back in to the cave by swimming near him but far less frequently today and with much less aggression.

Its looking like all will be well.

hahnmeister · 09/02/2007, 12:50 PM

How afraid is your tang of a fishnet? When I was trying to add my RedSea Purple to my 125, the yellow tang was freaking out. I tried feeding & then turning off the lights, then I tried putting the mirror on the side of the tank as a distraction. But in the end, I dangled a fishnet in the tank, which for some reason, the YT hid and wouldnt come out until the net was removed. All the other fish came out, but not the YT... weird. So it gave my RSPT a 2 day head-start on acclimation. I removed the net and they scrapped for a bit, but now they are part of the same 'school' it seems.

nosferatu51 · 09/02/2007, 12:52 PM

Yeah, sometimes takes a few days of fighting before the hierarchy is settled. The only thing I'd be worried about is the finicky eating nature of the Regal and whether he's getting food. If he's out and eating like you said, then all seems ok.

Albright · 09/02/2007, 12:57 PM

He just destroyed a half shell clam

He is fat and was at the LFS for a month eating mysis very happily.

I'm very confident he'll do well

Albright · 09/02/2007, 01:03 PM

Der_Iron_Chef · 09/02/2007, 03:38 PM

Gorgeous fish!

PrivateJoker64 · 09/02/2007, 05:59 PM

What he said!

Albright · 09/02/2007, 06:59 PM

Thanks guys. He's quickly become my favorite.

His tail and right fin are a bit beat up (from the LFS not the PBT). The way he eats I'm pretty sure he'll be prefect in no time.

TD13 · 09/02/2007, 07:28 PM

does he ever pick at ur corals

Albright · 09/02/2007, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TD13
does he ever pick at ur corals

Replied in your other thread.

08/31/2007, 06:31 PM	#1
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	Powder Blue not liking addition of Regal Angel :( I just added a Regal Angel to my 120. The tank had a pair of clownfish, a lawnmower blenny, and a powder blue tang who all got along great. As soon as the Regal went in the PB started to chase it and hasn't stopped for 20 mins or so now. The regal is larger than the PB. Should I be worried or should they work it out? Is there anything specific I should watch for? How long should I give them to settle it and at what point should I pull one of them out? I have no other tank I can house it in currently but could most likely bring either to the LFS tomrorow. Thanks! __________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

08/31/2007, 06:40 PM	#2
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	There is a lot of LR with a lot of hiding places however the tang is following him to them and not letting up. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

08/31/2007, 07:44 PM	#4
tbar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SE Virginia Posts: 452	I added a powder brown in my 75 gal with a yellow tang. The yellow had him pinned on the glass slapping him with his tail (barb). He (the yellow) spent the night in the sump and was taken to the LFS the next day. __________________ I have done a 5 gal water change (about 17%) every week since week one. Hopefully having this posted here will motivate me enough to keep doing so. Current Tank Info: 33L, Two 36" 24 watt Marineland LED's, Tunze 9002 Skimmer, 2 Koralia 1's, pico hob filter for carbon.

08/31/2007, 08:05 PM	#6
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	He seems to have backed off quite a bit. He passes by him from time to time but hasn't gone at him for a bit and his coloration which flared up quite a bit initially has toned down a lot. I'll continue to observe. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

08/31/2007, 08:06 PM	#7
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	oops __________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

08/31/2007, 06:41 PM	#3
Potsy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kinnelon, NJ Posts: 1,827	That's typical behavior for Acanthurus surgeonfish. Very territorial. Ideally, they should be the last fish added to an aquarium. Since the regal angel is a pretty timid, nervous fish, I'd keep a watchful eye for excessive stress levels and slash marks from the powder blue's blades. That powder blue might not let up on the harassment in a four foot tank.

08/31/2007, 07:56 PM	#5
Macimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Quartz Hill Posts: 4,078	I'd return the Angel asap, as it's just not fair. How would you like to be locked in a room with someone beating you up all night? As noted, powder blues are pretty aggresive and should be the last fish added. Do you have a qt tank. You could even use a salt bucket witgh an airstone, some eggcrate to cover it and hopefully, a stable temperature. Joyce

08/31/2007, 08:07 PM	#8
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	double edit: make that triple. I'm paying more attention to the tank than the buttons I'm clicking. Sorry for that. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

08/31/2007, 08:49 PM	#9
Macimage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Quartz Hill Posts: 4,078	Glad to hear it looks like it is improving. I don't know what your lighting schedule is, but if you turn the lights off and observe them in the darkened room it will help. Joyce

08/31/2007, 09:12 PM	#11
rollnheavy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: columbia sc Posts: 59	i have to take my yellow and put him in the sump for a few days when i added a powder blue....put him back in and now they are friends .

08/31/2007, 09:45 PM	#12
NanoGurl Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 4,306	Your PBT is doing your typical behavior. He will do that whenever you place something new into the tank. He will probably back off over the next day. However, you may have created a future problem with ich from stress now to your PBT. Keep an eye on him. If your PBT displays white bars or fast swimming and darts or chasing for more then a few days, you're going to have a lot of issues. Especially in a 4' tank. Goodluck!

09/02/2007, 12:05 PM	#13
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	Good news to report. Yesterday he was backed off quite a bit. He would slowly chase the Regal back into his cave area from time to time and would only very occasionally give him a few bumps with his tail much more lightly than the night before. The Regal was poking his head out further and further throughout the day. This morning I woke up to find the Regal out and exploring. I fed them some mysis and he was out and chasing them within a few seconds and eating quite happily along with the tang. The tang will occasionally move him back in to the cave by swimming near him but far less frequently today and with much less aggression. Its looking like all will be well. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

09/02/2007, 12:50 PM	#14
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	How afraid is your tang of a fishnet? When I was trying to add my RedSea Purple to my 125, the yellow tang was freaking out. I tried feeding & then turning off the lights, then I tried putting the mirror on the side of the tank as a distraction. But in the end, I dangled a fishnet in the tank, which for some reason, the YT hid and wouldnt come out until the net was removed. All the other fish came out, but not the YT... weird. So it gave my RSPT a 2 day head-start on acclimation. I removed the net and they scrapped for a bit, but now they are part of the same 'school' it seems.

09/02/2007, 12:52 PM	#15
nosferatu51 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 362	Yeah, sometimes takes a few days of fighting before the hierarchy is settled. The only thing I'd be worried about is the finicky eating nature of the Regal and whether he's getting food. If he's out and eating like you said, then all seems ok.

09/02/2007, 12:57 PM	#16
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	He just destroyed a half shell clam He is fat and was at the LFS for a month eating mysis very happily. I'm very confident he'll do well __________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

09/02/2007, 01:03 PM	#17
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	__________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

09/02/2007, 03:38 PM	#18
Der_Iron_Chef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 841	Gorgeous fish!

09/02/2007, 05:59 PM	#19
PrivateJoker64 Moved On Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 1,145	What he said!

09/02/2007, 06:59 PM	#20
Albright Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 169	Thanks guys. He's quickly become my favorite. His tail and right fin are a bit beat up (from the LFS not the PBT). The way he eats I'm pretty sure he'll be prefect in no time. __________________ John Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech Tank to keep me busy while planning a much larger system

09/02/2007, 07:28 PM	#21
TD13 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 407	does he ever pick at ur corals