I have a 55 FOWLR (see sig), with a Yellow Tang. The Tang started out terrified of anyone who would walk into the room with the aquarium in it. He has plenty of hiding spaces, and we've had him for several months now.
He's slowly becoming used to us, but still spends most of his time behind the rockwork, eyeing us from a hole or two in it.
We have added a Serpent Star, still quite young. The Tang is terrified of it. He'll swim away from us, see the star, and run away from it. We waited two more months, then added a Firefish. I was worried about the Tang being territorial (really, this was not the order we wanted to add them in, plans got switched around - long story), and watched closely, waiting to scoop the Tang into the QT if need be.
The Tang slowly swam near the Firefish, and the Firefish darted away. This scared the Tang, who also darted away - almost right into the star who was climbing over a piece of rock. Tang darted away again.
At this point, the Firefish has figured out the game, and swims freely around the tank. The Tang usually ignores him, but if he gets too close (read: not at the opposite end of the tank), he runs away, on the other side of the rockwork.
To the best of my knowledge this isn't normal. I've gotten my water tested several times with the quick test strips (which I've now stopped using), the drip tests, and pet stores (I can't remember the numbers off the top of my head, but everything was "fine".. *dodges a rock*), he shows no signs of illness, and is eating well. He doesn't seem to show any signs of stress, just.. well.. something between caution and fear.
Based on this information, should I continue to keep them both in the same tank? I don't know if I want a 55 gallon with only a Yellow Tang in it, adorable as he is. I do have another tank I can transfer him into for the timebeing, if needed.
There has been no nipping of fins or signs of aggression from either.
If I do keep them both in the tank, any suggestions for new tankmates (to be added down the road)?
Do I just have a neurotic Tang? Am I worrying over nothing? Will he and the Firefish eventually warm up to each other? Will I get another fish? Will I take a fish back to the LFS? Will the tank explode? These questions and more answered.. whenever you answer them.
He's slowly becoming used to us, but still spends most of his time behind the rockwork, eyeing us from a hole or two in it.
We have added a Serpent Star, still quite young. The Tang is terrified of it. He'll swim away from us, see the star, and run away from it. We waited two more months, then added a Firefish. I was worried about the Tang being territorial (really, this was not the order we wanted to add them in, plans got switched around - long story), and watched closely, waiting to scoop the Tang into the QT if need be.
The Tang slowly swam near the Firefish, and the Firefish darted away. This scared the Tang, who also darted away - almost right into the star who was climbing over a piece of rock. Tang darted away again.
At this point, the Firefish has figured out the game, and swims freely around the tank. The Tang usually ignores him, but if he gets too close (read: not at the opposite end of the tank), he runs away, on the other side of the rockwork.
To the best of my knowledge this isn't normal. I've gotten my water tested several times with the quick test strips (which I've now stopped using), the drip tests, and pet stores (I can't remember the numbers off the top of my head, but everything was "fine".. *dodges a rock*), he shows no signs of illness, and is eating well. He doesn't seem to show any signs of stress, just.. well.. something between caution and fear.
Based on this information, should I continue to keep them both in the same tank? I don't know if I want a 55 gallon with only a Yellow Tang in it, adorable as he is. I do have another tank I can transfer him into for the timebeing, if needed.
There has been no nipping of fins or signs of aggression from either.
If I do keep them both in the tank, any suggestions for new tankmates (to be added down the road)?
Do I just have a neurotic Tang? Am I worrying over nothing? Will he and the Firefish eventually warm up to each other? Will I get another fish? Will I take a fish back to the LFS? Will the tank explode? These questions and more answered.. whenever you answer them.
