coral beauty eating sps corals
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Topic: coral beauty eating sps corals
Posted By: Davidwillis
Subject: coral beauty eating sps corals
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 10:11am
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I have a coral beauty that has been nibbling on my sps corals. I would really like to keep the fish because it is my daughters (she picked it out, named it, etc). She would be very sad if I got rid of it. Is there any way I can get this fish to stop? Thanks David
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Replies:
Posted By: Crazy Tarzan
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 10:30am
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swap it for a different one, close in size. Usually (from what I recollect) once a fish develops taste for coral it's hard to keep them off it. It's what fish get hooked on (other than literal hooks). ------------- Was that in there yesterday? Casper--WY windier than ? Down to a 20, soon to double or nothing |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 10:59am
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Even if you swap fish, the next one will do the same thing. That tank is just too young/bare for that kind of fish; and you have two of them. Read my post about "fish training" in the Tips below. Do you remember me saying that you need some algae growing in this tank? Any organism will start eating the next best food when their preferred food is not available. This fish is hungry and found that Zooxanthellae algae in coral tissue is tasty.  Find some Macroalgae quick. Place it and some of it's water into your tank.You mentioned the need for Emerald Entree. You are right about that, and the sooner the better. Do you have a local grocery store with dried algae sheets/Nori/Sushi wrap? I would also turn off the alternate filtration system. That Hiatt system is evidently restricting the growth of food that the Angel needs. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 12:04pm
I can't find the fish training in your tips. Both angel fish eat flake food great, but I tried giving them some green seaweed, and they won't touch it. It seems like they (mostly the coral beauty) just like to go around all day grazing on stuff. They eat some algae off my overflow, then off the rock, then tast a coral.... I have been feeding them good lately, they used to frantically go after the food when I feed, now they just calmly go around picking out there favorite color and size of flakes...LOL What type of algae would you recommend I add to the tank? I may have to make a trip to a fish store... The local one does not have much. Does Aquatic dreams have < ="-" ="text/; =utf-8">Emerald Entree, algae sheets, and macro algae? Also, if I do all this do you think it will solve the problem, or will it just get board and taste some more corals again later? Thanks!!! |
Mark Peterson wrote:Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 12:37pm
| You always run the risk of a dwarf angel nipping on corals. It is part of the risk reward in this hobby. I would only ever keep one dwarf angel in a tank and I wouldn't keep one in a tank less than 50 gallons. |
Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 12:38pm
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I've bought Emerald Entree from Aquatic Dreams. Did you get some of those grazing tabs from Oceanic at the reeffest? They're suppose to be great for grazers. Sounds like your fish just want some more variety than flak food. ------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 12:50pm
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In my opinion once a fish has a taste for corals it is almost impossible to get them to stop picking at them, even if they are well feed. I would try a different coral beauty if you really want to have one. I have had many coral beauties that never pick at my corals, but other that have. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 1:22pm
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I agree with Ryan - with dwarf angels it's always a risk and they can turn on you at any time. My dad had one for three years that was a model citizen and then one day decided he loved the taste of SPS and Acans. ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 1:25pm
To be honest it sounds like it would be best to get rid of my dwarf angels... So what is a pretty (my girl needs a very pretty fish) fish that is safer?
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Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 1:30pm
I love Anthias - there is a good deal of variety in colors with Anthias. Pseudochromis are pretty but can be a bit mean. Any fairy wrasse will knock you off your socks with how pretty they are (just make sure you have a top!) ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: PhotoGlen
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 2:06pm
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David if you need some Macro algae I have some Chaeto with lots of life in it that I am probably getting rid of half of it. If you would like some call 435-830-4233. Glen. ------------- I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate. George Burns Now two 29 gal. Biocubes 90 gal. with a 40 gal. sump |
Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 2:09pm
Can you mail it???? I would pay for it, but that is a long way for me to drive.
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Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 3:34pm
Yes I agree with you... I didn't make it to the reeffest, but that sounds like something good... Can you get them anywhere else?
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Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 4:46pm
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I'm not sure where they're selling them. You are welcome to come grab some chaeto from me if you are in Logan. That's not too far of a drive.
------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 5:06pm
Thanks. That would be wonderful.
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Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 5:12pm
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It would be worth it to do the fish training and provide a bunch of good foods. You need those foods anyway. At the least, get some raw shrimp at the store and chop it up with some nori then freeze it to help it clump together. This is how we make our own fish food. If it helps reduce the incidence and/or severity of picking you will be the winner. Look in the "Adding New Fish..." link. So many people don't believe this is possible. Only because they have a tough time being the Alpha Fish. You are the boss. Let the fish know it. It's really no different than training a dog or cat. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 5:31pm
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The tank is at my office. I'm here from 9-5 MWF and 3-7PM Tues and TH. Just give me a heads up by call or text at 770-4043 and bring your own bag.
------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 6:01pm
Ok, so translating to adding a coral, this is what I get.... I will feed the fish good food soaked in garlic, then beat it with a stick if it looks at or eats a coral? |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 8:00pm
 You will be lucky if you can even hit the fish once. Fish are fast. Fish are also smart. They will learn that you are the boss and that if they want to stop the stick from chasing them, they have to stop looking at the coral as food. If I was going down to get the Chaeto, I would ask Ben if he would sell me part of a pack of Frozen food, Emerald Entree if he has it. Even just a day of no supplemental filtration will allow enough soft alge to grow on the surfaces, enticing the fish to eat that. Try it. I believe you will notice increased activity of both Angels picking more visible soft algae off the surfaces. This may even cause them to ignore and eventually forget about the coral. The training will add to the overall positive learning experience for the fish. Like kids, fish also need to be told, "NO".  Herbivorous fish are genetically and physically disposed to picking at algae all day long, just like cattle are made to graze on grass all day long. It takes a lot of algae to provide them their dietary needs. They, like cattle are supposed to have fat bellies full of algae. Their digestive systems are not designed to eat mostly flake or meaty foods. Hope this helps. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: November 11 2010 at 10:20pm
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Thanks... yes it does. I have the Chaeto, Made some food (in the freezer now), and put a light on my sump with Chaeto in it. I also put some Chaeto in the tank with the fish, but they have not started eating it yet. Now I need to go find a stick...
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Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: November 12 2010 at 11:16am
Mark's training only works on young fish. Remember, "you can't teach an old fish new tricks." At least I can't.  I've been poking at my GSM for years with a stick to try to get it to stop attacking my hand when it is in the tank. Hasn't done any good. After nearly 10 years you'd think I would get over being startled when she attacked me, but I still haven't. I jump every time she sneaks up on me and attacks. I guess you can't teach and old Aquarist new tricks either. I have a beautiful Lemon Peel Angel that does the same thing. So far it is has not damaged any coral that I can tell so I'm just leaving it in the tank. If it does start harming coral I'll have a tough decision to make. |
Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: November 12 2010 at 11:58am
| well it is a very young fish. It is actually about 1" long. So hopefully it will learn. I didn't see it do anything bad yesterday, and it hasn't done any real damage yet. |
Posted By: Jake Pehrson
Date Posted: November 12 2010 at 2:49pm
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I have tried to "train" my fish. It really has only worked a few times and I don't think it was the training, but more luck than anything. I tried for almost a year to get me flame angel to stop chasing my clowns. I have had my clown fish pair for 7 years and they still bite me even though I chase them away everytime my hand is in the tank. ------------- Jake Pehrson Murray http://coralplanet.com" rel="nofollow - coralplanet.com http://utahbeeranch.com" rel="nofollow - :) |
Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: November 12 2010 at 3:26pm
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I haven't trained a fish but my clown would bite me every time my hand was in the tank. I finally got sick of it and just left my hand next to his anem and let him bite it about 10 times. Eventually he gave up and has never bit me since.
------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: November 12 2010 at 3:34pm
Sounds like training to me. |