[prow]

yup you heard it, a mean tilefish. i have this so and so yellowhead tilefish (Hoplolatius starki). i have two in my tank. tank is 72X18X20. he is chasing everyone. stupid bully. the tankmates are
neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops) in for 2days
purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora) in for 20days
hector’s goby (Amblyeleotris hectori) in for 20days
rainford's goby (Amblygobius rainfordi) in for 20days
yellow watchman goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)in for 60days
royal gramma (Gramma loreto)in for 20days
2-percula clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris)in for 60days

all these guy but the neon were in there before them. i just added the tilefish a couple days ago. they are all on the small side. the gramma is maybe a 1/2". the tilefish are 3-4". and its the smaller one that is being the .

i have a regal tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) and a canary blenny (Meiacanthus oualanensis) in a hyposalinity QT. been there for 28days. both are health never showing any signs of anything. i also a orange back fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis) in a 5yr old 20gal reef i use for needed feeders as a QT. i soooo sooo much want to add them now. the tang mainly. just to :slap: the tilefish one good time. make him timid like he is supposed to be . i still can not believe this one, not both, is so mean. i have had them before and know others that have them, this is the first real aggressive one i have evr seen. he even goes after the neon goby . the only fishes he doesnt go after his the other tilefsh and the firefish. and i was worried most worried about the firefish. EEERRRRR he is really going after everyone. just today he started to do this. before everone got along. well before being the last three days. it started right after i did a water change. mmm, i think i am going to add them and just do some extra water changes for the next month or so. before the other are too scared to ever come out again. ok, i vented enough.

someone please talk me out of it or into it. i have the feeling if i watch the tank anymore this might happen today. this guy is really ticking me off. the other is so dosile. but this guy EEERRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dougc]

A lot of the fish you have in the tank are quite easily bullied. Firefish and other small gobies will get picked on by even by some normally mild-mannered fish. I am surprised that the tilefish would bother clowns unless they are small. None of your fish have been in the tank for very long, so they have not had much time to establish themselves.

I wouldn't rush to add the other fish to the mix in the hope that the tilefish would be intimidated. You may just end up creating more stress for all concerned. I'm not sure what else to suggest, not having ever kept tilefish. It might be best to try removing the aggressive tilefish instead. I know that can be a difficult proposition. I once had to remove every stinking coral and rock in my tank once to catch a rogue damsel and it was a major project.

Good luck.

[prow]

good idea but i would have to tear down everything way too much work. i am going to give it a couple days. maybe he will relax. i would think he would go for the firefish, but he stays clear of him. the other tilefish tries to get the neon to clean him but the other, when he sees it he go after him. my poor gramma keeps trying to come out but that tilefish eerrrr. he does not chase the clowns but does keep them in the back corner of the tank. its just wierd i have never seen a tilefish so dam aggressive. he acts more like a established angel or tang after adding a new tang or angel. i was thinking perhaps the tang will intimidate the tilefish but ignore the others. the neon and the gramma were in QT with the tang. they got along great in there. the tang loved getting cleaned by the neon. not sure if the tang would care about the hector and rainford. i would think no. but then again i thought the tilefish would not be the way he is. what really kills me is i had a pair before that went carpet diving one night when i left the lid open after feeding. those guys where in QT with the gramma and neon before i got the tang and blenny. no issues at all. it was a only a 30gal to boot. but this little so and so. i do wish i could catch him. but with 150+lbs of live rock in a 6 foot tank forget it. i am going to try not to look at my tank too much. maybe that will help, you know out of sight out of mind kind of thing.