[LivE]

Ok, first of all, i am new to these forums, and a somewhat beginner at saltwater fish.

I don't even know how to start this topic, because there is a story behind this. So I might as well tell it.

I am fully aware that royal dottybacks and royal gramms should NEVER be in the same tank together. HOWEVER, we had a royal dottyback first, it was our first fish. Two days ago, the royal dottback came up missing. It was nowhere to be found. I moved the live rock and everything looking for "Magnus" (My fiance named him because his magenta, and not very nice). My fiance loves Magnus, and was really tore up about his disappearance.

We've had a lot of trouble with Magnus. He is VERY aggressive. The only fish he doesn't harm is our Ocellaris clownfish and our female lyrtail anthias. If any other fish comes in the tank, he does not hessitate to attack and kill. He has killed a purple psuedochromis (dottyback) and a sixline wrasse.

ANYWAY- So my fiance was really sad about Magnus' disappearance, and wanted a new one to replace him. However, we discussed the situation, and decided that buying a Royal Gramma would be a much better idea because of their peaceful nature. So I went to the fish store and baught a Royal Gramma.

When I came home, and was floating the Royal Gramma, I couldn't help but notice a cute little magenta and yellow royal gramma swimming around in the filter O_O. I couldn't believe my eyes. MAGNUS WAS ALIVE!!! I didn't know exactly what to do, because I had just released the royal gramma into our tank when I noticed Magnus was still alive. I knew that he shouldn't be in the filter area, so I instantly netted him, and braught him back to the reef side of the tank.

This morning I called the fish store, and asked if i could bring in the royal gramma in, until our 50 gallon tank was stable enough to use (we just set this tank up 3 days ago, so we are waiting until the water is right) They had no problem taking him back. HOWEVER, I got home from work today, and the gramma was in a cave, and would not come out for anything. I didn't wnat to stir up the entire tank trying to get him out of the rock.

About 4 hours went by until i finally seen him dash out of the tank. His tail was CLEARLY nibbled at and in really rough condition. And when he came out of the cave, Magnus was quick to bite at him and chase him around giving him various blows (as usual). The MAIN problem is that the royal gramma was in MAGNUS' Cave. And if you know dottybacks, you know that they are VERY territorial and aggressive.


SO MY QUESTION IS THIS:

The fish store is now closed (and this incident just happend about 20 minutes ago) so I have no choice but to either put him in our new tank that has NO live rock in it, not to mention has only been up for 3 days, or levae him in the other tank. I am REALLY scared that he will die in there from Magnus' attacks.

HOW DO I SAVE MY ROYAL GRAMMA????????

[wozza]

i can see that the only way to save the royal gramma is to move the gramma into a different tank and in the morning take back the fish that is being aggressive to him.

[RHINO13]

Do you think your fish store would take it in that condition?

His tail was CLEARLY nibbled at and in really rough condition.

I am just a newbie but you might want to let the pro's know how long you have had the tank in question set up, and what you have in there as far as size of tank, live stock, liverock lbs. and such. I think it might help in suggestions in helping "catching" a fish in your main tank.

Good luck,

[leebca]

Sorry for the long-time to reply. I had an unexpected business trip. I'm in Tokyo right now.

You could partition the tank until you sort things out. Separate the two by plastic, plastic grating, netting, or one of those breeder boxes.

[LivE]

thanks guys. This morning, I went and had my water tested to see if it was good the water was in good living condition. I baught about 20 pounds of live rock, and put our royal gramma in our 50 gallon tank. Thanks for everything!

[LivE]

By the way, the royal gramma is doing fine today!

[wozza]

good good glad to here, its one of my fave fish!