TheClark Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 (edited) We have been struggling adding new fish lately, they get pummeled by one fish or another that does not like them. It's not that the fish that incompatible on paper, it almost seems that a pecking order has been established and all new comers are easy game. There is no single bully, different fish get irritated depending on what is introduced. Have tried re-arranging rocks etc, introducing at night, mirrors, making more hiding places / territories in the rockwork, but ultimately one fish or another is rubbed wrong and gets moved (usually very beat up) to the frag tank. I have only lost one fish out of four attempts, but the frag tank is filling up and it would be nice to get some fish into the display. Its no fun to try to see them in a 12" deep tank! So I ran across some 'social acclimation box' threads. The concept is that fish can see each other in the same tank, but not kill each other. Sometimes newcomers are kept for 24 hours, sometimes for a week in the box. It is exactly the method I used as a kid in the 80s to breed betas. The box then was a jar, or perhaps a livebearer trap. The female had to show off for the male for a bit before I would dare let her in the tank. Worked great, but betas are not reef fish I don't want to turn this into a 'this fix cannot mix with that fish thread', as I trust people such as CnC and TPA when discussing compatibility. So please share your experiences, how you have had luck introducing new fish into a 'tough crowd' that should otherwise be compatible. Edited April 2, 2015 by theclark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 (edited) Yes, I've been using one recently. I introduced a smaller leopard wrasse into my tank of leopards and saw some aggression. It was multiple leopards bullying the newcomer. I went out and got a critter keeper ($5-$10) and drilled holes through it. I put some sand and a rock in it, so the new wrasse had a place to hide, as well as sleep at night. It gave me a chance to really target feed the new wrasse and get him comfortable to the tank and lighting schedule, meanwhile the other leopards got used to their new tank member. I tried releasing it after a week and still saw a little bit of aggression, so I put him back in for two more weeks. When I released him this time, there was a touch of territorial behavior, but the aggression was gone. He did end up going missing about 3 weeks later, but reappeared after 2.5 weeks in the sand. He's been coming out and eating happily ever since. He's definitely still at the bottom of the pecking order, but is no longer being bullied. I will absolutely use this method again if I run into aggression issues in the future. The main cautionary advice I would give is to make sure your acclimation box is large enough for the fish you're putting in it. Even the large ones offered in the hobby seem to only be for smaller species. Edited April 2, 2015 by Dragon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthbound Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 +1 to the critter keeper, I have found it is almost a must with dwarf angels and most wrasses of the same genus. If you have an old mag float you can use it to hold the critter keeper to the glass and position it anywhere you want in the tank. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 Awesome, thanks guys! I was hoping a critter keeper could do the job as the price is sooooo much better. Dragon, I was wondering how long to leave the fish there, never would have guessed two weeks, good to know. Earthbound, thanks for the mag float tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 (edited) I was going to have one built since I needed a little bigger (22x15x10) but then figured why not get a plastic tote from HD-so 10.00 later vs some other amount it's a done deal. I zip tie mine between two of the top cross pieces and the screen I cover that section with cover the tote. Key is adding the PVC or something for the fish to hide in- It's not as pretty but at 1/10 (or mor) less money I can live with it for the short time it's there Edited April 2, 2015 by reefnjunkie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 I was going to have one built since I needed a little bigger (22x15x10) but then figured why not get a plastic tote from HD-so 10.00 later vs some other amount it's a done deal. I zip tie mine between two of the top cross pieces and the screen I cover that section with cover the tote. Key is adding the PVC or something for the fish to hide in- It's not as pretty but at 1/10 (or mor) less money I can live with it for the short time it's there Excellent! How clear is the tote, can you snap a pic? That sounds promising a bigger one would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 It's pretty clear, not like acrylic but it'll suffice-there are ones more clear than others that's for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodus Posted April 3, 2015 Share Posted April 3, 2015 Dragon, I was wondering how long to leave the fish there, never would have guessed two weeks, good to know. Also keep in mind he added sand & Live rock giving the fish a place to hide, If keeping confined is such a small space for so long I think this would definitely bring down stress levels in comparison of just being trapped in a box with no where to hide 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Picked up a critter keeper. Drilled it out. Note I used too big of a drill bit, cracked it. Still works. Acclimation starting. All the fish are quite interested in the newcomer, yet not shredding him to bits. Note to self - Did not scrape algae due to Sunday meeting Edited April 13, 2015 by theclark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasquatch Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 glad you found something to work out.. and looks like its doing a good job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) glad you found something to work out.. and looks like its doing a good job Thanks Sasquatch. The foxface is very much relaxed in it. No stress at all. Good flow through between the holes and the lid. Seems to be working ok. Planning on leaving him in there quite a while but excited there is a path forward. Bonus, drilled a couple of holes in the lid the size of the turkey baster. Easy to inject food right into the box, he eats like a pig and no one can touch him. Edited April 13, 2015 by theclark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 You may also want to research and ask some of the crew at www.wetwebmedia.com on the subjects of social acclimation and hierarchy. A good, knowledgeable bunch of people there including Bob Fenner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 (edited) Two more days and I plan on letting the magnificent foxface out. The box seems to be working. Day 1, it was on. Fish were threatening, foxface was frightened. Now, when someone comes to bug him, venemous fins go up and color brighten. Good hope that this guy will be able to hold his own once released. Edited April 17, 2015 by theclark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 (edited) Update: Good news. Yesterday I opened the lid of the critter keeper. The Foxface did not come out at first. However, the nosy pink tail trigger came in. It was chaos for a few seconds, but the new fish came out and so did the trigger once he figured it out. At first I was thinking 'epic fail' as the other fish were all over the new comer again. But once the newcomer made it back to the part of the tank where the acclimation box was located, all was well. He could hold his ground in this now familiar corner of the tank. As a result, I plan to leave the acclimation box in the tank another week, as it is familiar to him and he seems to have an advantage there. I even catch him ducking in it from time to time, voluntarily. Here is a pic of the new dynamics in play. Edited April 21, 2015 by theclark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasquatch Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 That's his box!. no one else gets to play in his box.. but he doesn't get to come play outside either the bullies.. Someday we must all give up our box and step into the big wide ocean of a world.. But until that day comes for me, I'm gunna sit right here in my cozy box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 That's his box!. no one else gets to play in his box.. but he doesn't get to come play outside either the bullies.. Someday we must all give up our box and step into the big wide ocean of a world.. But until that day comes for me, I'm gunna sit right here in my cozy box So cozy, so happy, such a good description. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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