Achilles or Sohal???

[Pawky]

achilles

 

[rng_pw]

Thanks for all of the feedback guys. Before you go as far as removing one what steps would you take to try to make them happy together? I heard a couple times that feeding more might help, any other opinions?

 

[stunreefer]

More feeding will be key as it will keep them "occupied". Put an auto-feeder on there and always have some Nori on a clip.

You could try moving some rocks around so the existing fish will have to restablish it's territory with the newcomer present.

FWIW, both are very boisterous territorial fish, and long term I think you would have issues. If the achilles is "boss" now, the sohal will outgrow it and problems could arise the other way around at that point.

 

[110reef]

One way to solve territory disputes is to re-arrange the tank. This especially works if one fish is established and the other is new. Re-arrange the tank and everyone starts out on an even footing, and they usually will get along. Problem is with a reef tank, it is tough to re-arrange them without uprooting corals and such...But in a fish only tank, this works great!

From what I gather this is a huge (450 gallon) Fish Only tank? If so, try the re-arrangement thing before getting rid of either.

 

[guppychao]

place a mirror in front of the tank, they should attack the mirror first. may have to have 2 mirrors. i did it with my achilles, but he was bothering my hippo. did it for about 1-2 weeks.

 

[benny z]

another trick is to pull the most dominant tang out of the tank for a while. if you have a large enough sump/other tank to hold it in, keeping the most aggressive out of the tank for a week allows the newcomer to become established and forces the other tangs in the tank to regroup and figure things out. then when you put the most dominant back in, they have to figure things out all over again, and things usually settle out.

 

[xinumaster]

+1 on sohal, but I won't mine adding an achilles in my tank too.

 

[rng_pw]

Well I wish that was an option. My rock is set up in pilars and cannot be moved. It is a reef full of sps.

One way to solve territory disputes is to re-arrange the tank. This especially works if one fish is established and the other is new. Re-arrange the tank and everyone starts out on an even footing, and they usually will get along. Problem is with a reef tank, it is tough to re-arrange them without uprooting corals and such...But in a fish only tank, this works great!

From what I gather this is a huge (450 gallon) Fish Only tank? If so, try the re-arrangement thing before getting rid of either.

 

[rng_pw]

I think I will try that. It just reminded me of the first time I placed my black background on the tank and he went nuts. Thanks for all of the input guys

place a mirror in front of the tank, they should attack the mirror first. may have to have 2 mirrors. i did it with my achilles, but he was bothering my hippo. did it for about 1-2 weeks.

 

[rng_pw]

Again easier said than done. I have tried to catch a few fish from time to time with absolutely zero success. Thanks again for the info

another trick is to pull the most dominant tang out of the tank for a while. if you have a large enough sump/other tank to hold it in, keeping the most aggressive out of the tank for a week allows the newcomer to become established and forces the other tangs in the tank to regroup and figure things out. then when you put the most dominant back in, they have to figure things out all over again, and things usually settle out.

 

[rng_pw]

the mirror caught the achilles attention within minutes. Its the first time in the last 2 days that I seen the sohal get out from under the rocks. Thanks guys

 

[110reef]

Glad that is working for you. The mirror trick is a really good way.

Another method I will use when I get a new fish, often I will just throw a big old fish net in there or a piece of eggcrate. The established fish will be afraid of it and the new fish will have an area of refuge to hide by until territories are sorted out. When everyone is happy, remove the net/eggcrate.