aquaknight
Active Member
Well this morning was interesting. Woke up to a loud, thump, thump, thump. The 55gal QT is in my bedroom, but it took a second or two to realize that's the sound the Lei Trigger makes when he's eating something. As my eyes try and focus, I see a small blue flash followed by the Lei. Then lots more of those thumps.
See what appears to be one of my chromis severely revenged, then the Lei, zoom over and hit it, like it was a silverside!
For whatever reason the Lei was trying to eat the chromis. He's been a perfect fish till this morning. One more chase and he gets the chromis by the head and it's game over. I scoop the now dead chromis out. Now fearful for my Spiny Burrfish, I watch the tank. The Lei continues to try and hunt the chromis as if it was still in the rocks for about 45mins. Meanwhile I notice Spiny do something he's NEVER done, lay down. After a quick lookover, he's fine, but extremely weird behavior.
Well during one of the Lei circles around the tank, I see the Lei turn broadside to Spiny, give him a couple tail whack then give a little nip. Nothing like that bone crushing sounds he makes when he's eating, but just a little nip to send a clear message.
After more watching, I notice the other chromis. Now a bit distraught because it's partner of 14months is now missing, is out in the open water. I wait for the inevitable, which never comes. The Trigger swims right by without a care in the world. After some more watching I notice the chromis go into the dark side of the tank (I turned on left light on, the right side is on a timer). The trigger is on the far left, sees him, and charges full speed for a hit. The chromis was able to sidestep, and swam to the lit side. Trigger now realizes it's a different fish and leaves him alone.
And that's pretty much how's it's been. I am acclimating Spiny to my 125gal. I just can't take that chance. So far the chromis is still fine and untouched. I'm just here trying to sort this out. The tank has been the same for awhile now. I only rised salinity to match my 125 (1.017 to 1.025), because it was time for the Lei to switch tanks.
This is sort of an obscure theory, but I wonder if the changed in the salinity affected the one chromis in a way, the Lei scented it, and went in for the kill? And the aggressiveness towards the puffer, was just a bit of either testosterone left over, and/or a bit of space stress from being cooped up in a 55gal for 3 1/2 weeks?
I was either going to put the Lei in the 125 today, or tomorrow. Wow. So sort of wondering now what to do. My brother said that maybe everything was a space issue, and in the larger 125, I doubt there'll be a problem? But in reality, a 125 is only a bit larger then a 55gal, in terms of usable dimensions, 2ft. longer, 7" deeper. But the main thing is the risk in the 125 with my other fish. A pair of percula clowns, my Blue Dot puffer, a Sargassum Trigger, a Leopard wrasse, and my beloved Blueface. Definitely would be fearful for the clowns, and have no idea how the reaction the Sargassum is going to be, either now.
I guess it's just a matter of chance, and if I want to risk it. The 125 is 227% larger then the 55gal. And this could just be a random act of violence. I mean, this is a trigger. But it would seem too risky now, for my other fish. So far, the plan is to keep the Lei in the 55gal with the other chromis, and see how everything plans out.
See what appears to be one of my chromis severely revenged, then the Lei, zoom over and hit it, like it was a silverside!
For whatever reason the Lei was trying to eat the chromis. He's been a perfect fish till this morning. One more chase and he gets the chromis by the head and it's game over. I scoop the now dead chromis out. Now fearful for my Spiny Burrfish, I watch the tank. The Lei continues to try and hunt the chromis as if it was still in the rocks for about 45mins. Meanwhile I notice Spiny do something he's NEVER done, lay down. After a quick lookover, he's fine, but extremely weird behavior.
Well during one of the Lei circles around the tank, I see the Lei turn broadside to Spiny, give him a couple tail whack then give a little nip. Nothing like that bone crushing sounds he makes when he's eating, but just a little nip to send a clear message.
After more watching, I notice the other chromis. Now a bit distraught because it's partner of 14months is now missing, is out in the open water. I wait for the inevitable, which never comes. The Trigger swims right by without a care in the world. After some more watching I notice the chromis go into the dark side of the tank (I turned on left light on, the right side is on a timer). The trigger is on the far left, sees him, and charges full speed for a hit. The chromis was able to sidestep, and swam to the lit side. Trigger now realizes it's a different fish and leaves him alone.
And that's pretty much how's it's been. I am acclimating Spiny to my 125gal. I just can't take that chance. So far the chromis is still fine and untouched. I'm just here trying to sort this out. The tank has been the same for awhile now. I only rised salinity to match my 125 (1.017 to 1.025), because it was time for the Lei to switch tanks.
This is sort of an obscure theory, but I wonder if the changed in the salinity affected the one chromis in a way, the Lei scented it, and went in for the kill? And the aggressiveness towards the puffer, was just a bit of either testosterone left over, and/or a bit of space stress from being cooped up in a 55gal for 3 1/2 weeks?
I was either going to put the Lei in the 125 today, or tomorrow. Wow. So sort of wondering now what to do. My brother said that maybe everything was a space issue, and in the larger 125, I doubt there'll be a problem? But in reality, a 125 is only a bit larger then a 55gal, in terms of usable dimensions, 2ft. longer, 7" deeper. But the main thing is the risk in the 125 with my other fish. A pair of percula clowns, my Blue Dot puffer, a Sargassum Trigger, a Leopard wrasse, and my beloved Blueface. Definitely would be fearful for the clowns, and have no idea how the reaction the Sargassum is going to be, either now.
I guess it's just a matter of chance, and if I want to risk it. The 125 is 227% larger then the 55gal. And this could just be a random act of violence. I mean, this is a trigger. But it would seem too risky now, for my other fish. So far, the plan is to keep the Lei in the 55gal with the other chromis, and see how everything plans out.