Aggressive Powder Blue

[amc23]

I have a Powder Blue tang that has recently become very inhospitable to new tank members. Two months ago I introduced a mandarin dragonet and a big pink square anthia to the tank, and the powder blue immediately went after the anthia and chased and nipped it until the poor thing succumbed about a week later. He has always left the dragonet alone. I yesterday brought home a pair of smaller Evansi anthias, thinking that because they were smaller and a pair, he would leave them alone. Nope. The anthias acclimated well and came right out of hiding at the first feeding and the Powder Blue ignored the food (never happens) in order to terrify the new pair. For a day now he has been hanging around their hiding places waiting for them to come out so he can bully again. I am obviously very frustrated as the tang is a beautiful fish and I don't want to get rid of him.

 

1. Is there anything I can do to save these two new anthias?

2. For the future, any recommendations on adding my next fish?

 

Thanks everyone

 

Alex

[lhcorals]

If it is possible try to rearrange some of the rock. Other than that i have no clue. The Powder Blue is known to get very aggressive. I have read they should be one of the last fish added to the tank.

[Nate]

I have heard that some people have luck with mirrors. Place a mirror against the glass and the fish will be distracted thinking its reflection is another fish. You could also try taking the powder blue out of the tank for a few days. It will hopefully erase his memory of being in that tank.

[amc23]

Thanks for the responses-I have tried to scoop him out but he is too fast. I can try rearranging the rock and the mirror trick. For the future i thought I might put any new fish in a hang-on container in the tank so the Powder Blue gets used to them being there?

Any other ideas?

Thanks

Alex

[davelin315]

I think you'd just stress the fish out in the hanging container. Do you shut off the lights during introduction? That can get the Powder Blue to calm down and go into night mode and then you can add the fish and leave the tank dark until the next day. The aggression should wear down after a few days, but you should also add the tang later on as it is an aggressive fish with others of similar body shape.

[OldReefer]

I lost a school of 6 Bartlett Anthias to a Powder Blue. He killed them all and never let anothe fish of any type in the tank after. They are are that agressive.

[guppychao]

+1 on the mirror, worked for my achilles when i introduced 2 angels, however my hippo, my oldest fish, still gets harrased out of all my others.

[amc23]

Success! I moved some of the rock and coral around and two days later the anthias were out and the Powder Blue has left them alone (for the most part). he keeps them on their toes but they are now eating and swimming freely at all hours. Thank you everyone for your advice.

Alex

[onyx]

That's good to hear.