crazy emperor angel

[i love fish]

my juvinile emperor tried to eat my fire shrimps the first few hours after I put them into my DT.
She has now grown 2 love them (but they r not so trusting of her yet), but I am concerned that this behaviour may occur once again when I introduce my fire gobbies and clowns which r due to come out of the QT and in2 the DT in a month or so.
Any suggestions?

 

[aquaknight]

How did you add the shrimp? Acclimate them, then just dump them in? In the middle of the day, with the tank lights on, etc? It sounds like the Emperor just thought the fire shrimp were just his/her food for the day. Next time, kill the lights and guide the new additions down to the rocks. The net should keep the Emperor away and not thinking whatever is new, is food. Though with fish, I have extreme doubts the Emperor would show interest in actually eating them....

 

[srfisher17]

Even the juvi emperors can be very territorial. They are also omnivores and will often eat anything they can. Large angels are not above eating small fish.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/2668761
How did you add the shrimp? Acclimate them, then just dump them in? In the middle of the day, with the tank lights on, etc? It sounds like the Emperor just thought the fire shrimp were just his/her food for the day. Next time, kill the lights and guide the new additions down to the rocks. The net should keep the Emperor away and not thinking whatever is new, is food. Though with fish, I have extreme doubts the Emperor would show interest in actually eating them....

I agree, mostly.. Even the juvi emperors can be very territorial. They are also omnivores and will often eat anything they can. Large angels are not above eating small fish. This isn't "crazy" behavior; it reflects the eat or be eaten world of the reef.

 

[i love fish]

Ok, I did all that u suggested when I came 2 put my next lot of shrimps in and the emperor did the same thing, next lot of shrimps i put in while she was sleeping in the morning she didn't even notice.
Afew weeks later I turned the lights off, distracted her with food and put my Red firegobbies in and she went str8 4 the kill, she terrorized them nearly 2 death, I rearanged the rockwork 2 try and change the territories abit, but that did nothing she wasn't gonna give up without killing the poor newies.
I ended up moving her 2 1 of my QTs and will soon B putting her back in the DT. Do u think she'll still try and kill them when I put her back in the DT? I also took the opportunity 2 add my clowns during this time 2 will they b on her next menu 2?
What 2 do?

 

[small triggers]

you may have to keep her in the QT until you are done adding, seems like she is more aggresiv than most. But that is what i have to do with my maroon clown anytime i try to add a new guy, she goes into my sump for a week or 2 and then is fine

 

[i love fish]

thanks 4 the advise. yeh, i think i'm going 2 hv 2 do that, what a pain.