Odd Behaviour?

[Hara]

Some of you may remember that a couple months ago I lost my snowflake eel to some unknown reason. Well, my husband knows how much I miss it and bought me another one for my birthday. (He also bought me a Marine betta, Calloplesiops altivelis, too!) Anyway, my sailfin tang used to "tail" blizzard all the time and since he was quite small, even when he grew, he was afraid of the tang. Well, sure enough, as soon as we put Leviathan in the tank, the tang started the tail stuff. Now this eel is over 2 feet long and quite big around....does the tang have a death wish or what? Is this some natural enmity that I have never heard of?

Incidently, before someone mentions it, I know the grouper is not reef safe, he is in the 55 gallon tank with the puffer and triggerfish.

 

[reefrunner69]

Now this eel is over 2 feet long and quite big around....does the tang have a death wish or what?

Nope the tang is simply establishing dominance (kinda the way male dogs get romantic with your leg or other male dogs). Believe it or not, the eel doesn't stand much of a chance on catching and eating the tang. The tail whipping, could very easily kill the eel if the tangs tail spikes are erected.

Incidently, before someone mentions it, I know the grouper is not reef safe, he is in the 55 gallon tank with the puffer and triggerfish.

Depending on how strict you are with the word "reef safe", I think marine bettas are reef safe