Yellow Tang w/ nipped fins

[Mr_Cool]

I got a smaller yellow tang yesterday to add to my 55 gallon. He looked great when I first put him in. But, apparently my atlantic blue tang didn't like him too much. After about 15 minutes, the blue started badgering him a bit. (The yellow one is about 2-3" and the blue is about 3-4".) I figured they just needed to figure out what the pecking order was going to be. Then I saw the blue nipping at the fins of the yellow. Every now and then, the yellow would turn to fight back a little, so I thought I'd see what happened overnight. I had the lights out in the tank since about 6:00 pm last night, and late last night they seemed okay.

This morning, though, the yellow's dorsal and tail fins are pretty nipped up. I put him down in the sump. What can I do?

I thought that since the yellow and blue were from different genuses (Zebrasoma vs. Acanthurus, respectively), they should be okay together. Or, is a 55 gallon just too small for 2 tangs?

BTW, I rearrannged all of my rockwork on Thursday.

[MattK]

You should send the blue tang to anger management classes.

[Mr_Cool]

The funny thing is this. I only got the yellow tang because I took out a pretty good sized yellow damsel. I liked the bright yellow color, but I was tired of the damsel going after me everytime I put my hand in the tank.

In retrospect, I guess it was better that I got picked on rather than one of the tank inhabitants.

[Enigma13]

I think a 55 gallon is definitely too small for two tangs. You will read many sources that say it is too small for even one.

[Mr_Cool]

Do fish have good memories? (Y'know, like elephants do.)

I know it sounds like a stupid question, but it would be nice to know. I've had the yellow in my sump for about a week, but I caught the blue one today, and switched them. (The yellow is now in the main tank and the blue is in the sump.) I had the blue one for about 5-6 months before I added the yellow, so he was obvioiusly the aggressor. I want the yellow to feel more comfortable in the tank before I try them again.

So how long do you think I should keep them separated like this? But, at the same time, I'm wondering if it will make that big of a difference. I mean, if the blue remembers that it was "his" tank when I try putting them together again, am I going to have problems again? Do you think the blue will take his place back? Or, will the yellow one defend his new territory?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I was thinking a week in "time-out" for the blue guy ought to do it.

[cpreefguy]

Im pretty sure that fish have little to no memory...
try re-arranging your rocks a little, that will break up the blues "territory"

[loans_n_fishes]

Moving the rocks around actually creates new territories so maybe they can each pick one and move on.

Personally, I think it is very possible they have good memories...at least for certain things. My fish see me get the food out of the freezer (way across the room) and all "run" to the corner of the tank and go nuts! They are at least subject to Pavlov! :roll