reefkpr123
New Member
I have a 30 gallon reef that is a pretty well established, and healthy tank.
Two days ago, I bought a long nosed Hawkfish, and added him to the tank. He promptly proceded to get his butt kicked all over the tank by every other fish in the tank.....specifically, my Wrasse.
After a couple of hours in the tank, he was nowhere to be found. I looked everywhere outside the tank thinking he may have leapt out...but he was nowhere to be found. I figured that he found a little spot to hide somewhere, and just let it go for a while. I went to work yesterday....came home...and still couldn't find the hawk anywhere. I was just about to start tearing down my rockwork to find him, when I thought to check the HOB refugium. Well...after a few minutes I found him laying inside the top part of the ref (which is covered). The only way he could've gotten there would've been to travel through all of the different sections of the ref. What a ride!! I thought he was dead for sure and went to pick him up, and he was still alive! I put him back in the tank, where once again, this bully wrasse proceded to relentlesly beat him up.
So my question......
Does anyone have experience with wrasses being this aggressive? I know they can be territorial, but thought they were in general, a peaceful fish.
I don't want to have to take the hawk back to the lfs....but am afraid I might have to if the wrasse won't let up.
How long should I let him get beat up before I take him out and bring him back? Will the wrasse eventually accept his presence? Or are they just destined to be mortal enemy's?
Two days ago, I bought a long nosed Hawkfish, and added him to the tank. He promptly proceded to get his butt kicked all over the tank by every other fish in the tank.....specifically, my Wrasse.
After a couple of hours in the tank, he was nowhere to be found. I looked everywhere outside the tank thinking he may have leapt out...but he was nowhere to be found. I figured that he found a little spot to hide somewhere, and just let it go for a while. I went to work yesterday....came home...and still couldn't find the hawk anywhere. I was just about to start tearing down my rockwork to find him, when I thought to check the HOB refugium. Well...after a few minutes I found him laying inside the top part of the ref (which is covered). The only way he could've gotten there would've been to travel through all of the different sections of the ref. What a ride!! I thought he was dead for sure and went to pick him up, and he was still alive! I put him back in the tank, where once again, this bully wrasse proceded to relentlesly beat him up.
So my question......
Does anyone have experience with wrasses being this aggressive? I know they can be territorial, but thought they were in general, a peaceful fish.
I don't want to have to take the hawk back to the lfs....but am afraid I might have to if the wrasse won't let up.
How long should I let him get beat up before I take him out and bring him back? Will the wrasse eventually accept his presence? Or are they just destined to be mortal enemy's?
