New Tank, Mean Fish

tisu6

tisu6

New Member
Hello,
So I'm a beginner with a new salt water tank. I have a 28g Nano. It's stocked with 4 large liverock (about 16 pounds total)
*12 Blue leg hermit crabs
*2 Mexican turbo snails
*1 Cleaner shrimp
* 1 Blue devil damsel (Female)
* 1 True percula clownfish
* 1 Bi-color blenny
I also have a 6 stripe wrasse coming in tomorrow.
Thus far, things seem to be going okay, however, my Damsel is torturing my blenny. She chases him around the tank, will not allow him to go anywhere near the rocks. If the blenny so much as thinks of coming down from the corner of the tank by the filter, she goes at him. I've read that the damsels can be very territorial and that the blenny's love to hide in the rocks so it's natural that these two conflict (of course, they never told me that at the pet store).
Is there ANYTHING I can do to stop this from happening? Unfortunately, I've already put a few hundred dollars into the rocks, tank, etc and cannot afford more live rock right now. (Although it is a slow process that I am working on). I also don't have another tank to separate them. What else can I try?
Please help, I'm worried my blue devil is ganna get him!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Get rid of the damsel....this will never end, they are MONSTERS!!!
WELCOME TO THE FORUM ALSO!!!!
How old is the tank? do you have a full tank shot you can share with us?
OH AND that pink and yellow fish is not a blenny....it is a pseudochromis
 
tisu6

tisu6

New Member
I've been lied to!! No wonder I couldn't find any pink and yellow Blenny's on the internet! Uggg! Thanks petland.
Thank you for the info!
Well, The tank is pretty young. This is day 2 of the fish being in there. I appreciate the welcome. Obviously....this is all a little new to me.
 
tisu6

tisu6

New Member
My pink fish has been identitfied as a Royal Dottyback. I really appreciate again you helping me identify him. I would have never known!
 
tisu6

tisu6

New Member
And onto issue number 2. I'm reading about the Royal Dottyback fish, and it states that they eat ornatmental fish. Is my cleaner shrimp in danger of becoming dinner? What the heck kind of zoo did I set up!! Not to mention, I'm pretty upset that no one at the pet store bothere to 1. Tell me about the damsel fish & 2. Identify the Dottyback correctly.
I'm worried my damsel is going to kill my dottyback. And if that doesn't happen, my dotty back will eat my shrimp. Oh boy.
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
I agree, the damsel will get much bigger, and will most likely run your other fish to death. Take it back.
bi-color blennys are very personable and would make a much better addituon to your tank.
Just a suggestion-- stack your rock more in the middle and make a nice cave for your fish to hide in, leaving the one with the zoas on the top, otherwise, nice start.
T
 
S

smartorl

Guest
Dottybacks from my experience tend to be shy at first and often get chased around and then the light switch flicks and they become the aggressors.
I have a strawberry pseudo that came back from vacationing at the lfs thinking it's a great white. It has been absolutely relentless chasing my tangs. My massive orange and black shouldered tangs are starting to get really stressed........by a two inch fish. I have been trying to catch it but they are also very fast and seemingly witty.
We also have a yellow dottyback that was at our lfs for over two years, my son felt so bad for the ugly brown fish with the attitude that we bought it. He is peaceful as can be so far.
I think damsels can be manageable in a tank, if they are low down on the food chain. I have several that I have never had any issues with really, but their tank mates are a large pair of aggressive tomato clowns, niger trigger, a porp puffer (RIP Puffy McPufferson) and some larger territorial tangs. The damsels spend most of their lives keeping out of the way of the other, larger fish.
Edit: Personally, I have never had any issues with a dottyback messing with my shrimp when I had them in the tanks together but I do keep my fish well fed and stock on the lighter side to avoid crowding which can bring out aggression.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
k two things:
the dottyback might eat smaller ornamental shrimp like sexys shrimps or harliqun shrimp (SP)...not cleaners or fires i dont think.
Also I had a purple psuedocromis and the lil guy was a terror! Never buying another dottyback!
O and uve made an aquarium man not a zoo!!! LOL
You should stack that cave looking piece of rock on the the other two in the back! Wiggle em around so they are sturdy and try and puch em down into the sand!
Welcome to the site man!
 
tisu6

tisu6

New Member
Thank you so much for the advice everyone, I appreciate. (1 guy dude, I'm a female
)
When I get home tonight I will rearrange the LR a little bit. Make it more cave like. I'm ganna try and get maybe another piece when I pick up my 6 Stripe Wrasse. I think the blue devil is going back. I just don't like what shes doing. Plus, when you look at her face, she looks MEAN! Honestly, like shes snaraling.
I'd ideally like to get one more fish so that I have four in the tank. So what do you guys suggest I swap the Blue Devil with? (Approriate name). Something to get along with the Royal Dottyback, My clown, and the new 6 Stripe Wrasse.
I'm also so glad to hear that he wont eat my shrimp. I didn't think he would, he seems really docile and peaceful. Probably cause he spends most his day being chased by that mean 'ol thing. Hope all are alive and well when I make it home tonight.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
OK....Just my opinion...BUT....a 6line wrasse is mean too, and should be your last fish added......get rid of some of those blue legs, and get some other cuc (clean up crew)
Is that sand in your tank? IF it is, I would get some nassarius snails. then also get some cerith and astrea (or trochus if your store has them)
why not get a mate for your clown??? OR get a couple of small clown gobies....or look into a chalk basslet (neat fish)
 
tisu6

tisu6

New Member
No it's not sand. It's crushed coral.
What is the benefit of getting rid of some of the blue leg crabs? They are itty bitty. I picked out the smallest ones. What other CUC would be good?
Really about the 6 line!!!! I'm so excited about him!!!!!! Do you think he wouldn't get along if I had 2 clowns, the royal, and him?
 
S

siptang

Guest
First, welcome to the site!
my pseudochromis killed pair of my peppermint shrimps... I guess they are all different but couple of them I have dealt with have some temper to them. (one killed sailfin tang)
and I agree with the rest of the people here. Get RID OF THAT DAMSEL. It will destroy your tank!
6 line wrasse should be fine I believe.
 
mproctor4

mproctor4

Member
Welcome to the site. I don't want to rain on your parade but you've only had fish in the tank for a few days. The best thing you can do with saltwater is GO SLOW. Personally I would take the blue damsel back (mine are very aggressive in a 120g) and wait a couple of weeks before doing anything else. The slower you go, the better results you will have. If you want to add something now to the tank, what about some more zoas or mushrooms, an easy to care for coral. Another thing, you can't trust petstores. So far your tank looks great.
 
thebosch11

thebosch11

New Member
PLZZZZZZZZZZ wait to add fish, oyu want to wait for your tank to catch up with th bioload before anything. I wait for about 3 weeks between additions and you seems like yur just bloing through. Patince is the key my friend.
Ohh, yes plz return the damsel, thy may seem cute at first but they become mean. Surprise the name Blue devil didnt give you a clue. LOL
 
tisu6

tisu6

New Member
Ok, so here is what I have learned and decided....
If you all see any huge errors in my thinking, please let me know.
The verdict is the blue devil is going back. (Hope they take him. I'm ganna have a serious talk with the manager)
The LR are going to be moved a bit towards the center with the dark purple rock towards the top to create a move cave like feel
I'm going to get another piece of LR
I will still add my 6 strip wrasse since he's already purchased but will not add anything else for 2-3 weeks. When I do add, it will be a mate for my clown fish (or something like that that will be peaceful).
Will search for some more corals to add in a couple weeks. Would like to get some nice coral growing.
Meowzer, the tank has only been set up for about a week. I had the water in there. I added the crushed coral and let it settle for about 36 hours. Then added the LR & Fish. I hope the speed in which I did all this does not cause problems. I will be sure not to add any more changes till it all has a chance to settle down.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I would not add the 6line yet....I think you are only looking for trouble....Most tanks are set up with live rock and sand and let to run 4-6 weeks before anything is added....this is so the initial cycle can begin, and all toxic levels of ammonia and nitrites are cycled out
Do you have a test kit? If so what are your test readings? Tell your lfs that you want a credit for the devil..AND the 6line..they can resell them...and use that credit to buy whatever you don;t have yet....LOL....
 
tisu6

tisu6

New Member
Hey,
I don't have my own test kit yet (a little poor right now from all this SPEND SPEND SPEND), but a friend was over helping me and tested my water and said that everything is where it should be. I believe he said all 0's? I'm not to sure I didn't really write it down.
I will be getting a test kit soon. The LFS would not return the 6 stripe so I do have to pick him up today. They did however take back the damsel. So now that fish is gone. (I'm very happy about that, and I'm pretty sure so it my Dottyback).
Here is an updated photo. I moved the rocks around a little and did get my clown a mate. Once I add the 6 stripe today, that's it. I don't plan to touch it for a while. Hope it all works out. Guys at petland seemed a little peeved when I told him he misidentified a fish. Although I'm pretty sure that's partly why I got a full refund on the damsel.
Let me know your thoughts!
 
mproctor4

mproctor4

Member
The tank looks nice but probably hasn't even begun to cycle yet. You really need to go to the New Hobbiest section and read about cycling a tank. Your best chance of keeping things alive is going to be a test kit, frequent water changes, and if needed Stability by Seachem. When my tank crashed (long story) that and Prime is what helped keep the fish alive. I HATE adding chemicals but must say it was a good thing in that instance. See if you can find someone to take your fish, it is just way to soon to be adding anything and when the ammonia spikes it is very uncomfortable for them if they survive. More live rock will help the tank to stabilize quicker also.
 
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