Can't find the culprit, any help?

fantomkoala

Member
My maroon clown has become victim lately to an unknown pest. One of her fins continually looks like it is picked at. And I can't figure out who is doing it. She still eats profusely and doesn't appear hurt at all from it, but I'd like to stop whatever it bothering her.
I have never seen either of my other two fish pick at her; they are a cleaner wrasse and a very small juevenile blue angel. My tank is also full of invertabrates, probably over 100 crabs in there. (Scarlet, Blue Leg, Sally Lightfoot, Emerald) I also have an electric scallop who I don't think could get any of the fish even if he tried. Lastly, I have a green brittle star who I try and feed every other day to keep content.
Thats it for the suspects. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Fantom+K
Also, all water tests show everything at 0.
Thanks!
 

gobylover

Member
I would say one of the crabs.How big are the emeralds?I know they can be pests when they get big.I say crabs because my Lion was lying down yesterday and my hermit walked over and nipped at him.Well I don't think he'll do it again.Lion turned around and almost bit his head of literally.I also had an unidentified crab tear my coral beuts tail.
 

jacrmill

Member
i second the crabs. wouldnt think it would be a cleaner wrasse, and i would think a very small juvenile blue angel wouldnt be that stupid. your clown would probably tear into him. from what i understand maroon clowns can be kinda mean sometimes. does your clown rest near any crabs? do you have an arrow crab? ive heard they can be kinda mean.
 
I was at my lfs a couple of days ago and they had a couple of clowns in a 30 gal that was full of inverts. I noticed that as soon as one of the clowns would go to the bottom to either rest or investigate the crabs would attempt to bum rush him, three or four in the area would rush over and start picking at the clown. Are the crabs getting enough food? All crabs are opportunists and if they dont have enough food supply will go after whatever is around.
 

fantomkoala

Member
Well, I found out what was going on this afternoon luckily. Suprisingly, it was my new angel and not one of the crabs. My maroon is definitely an exception to the rule as she is a big pansy. My angel has been shy since it was introduced to the tank and tends to hide a bit more when we are around the tank. But while I was in the kitchen, I noticed the angel would come out and chase the poor clown all across the tank and displace her from her (the clown's) home in the rocks. But as soon as I came back into the room, the angel became just that, a little angel, and behaved herself. Needless to say I had to take the beautiful fish back today. Having a peaceful tank is more important to me then having a mean but beautiful fish.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Fantom+K
 
If she was such an angel when you were around then you could have just put a picture of u in front of the tank and seen if that worked. J/K
Peace
 
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