Cornered Rabbitfish

[rocketeer]

Hey guys,

I got a rabbitfish about six days ago. He's about seven inches long. I drip acclimated him for about four hours and put him in my 120 reef with my regal tang, yellow tang, heniocus bannerfish and a few smaller fish who don't care about him. The bannerfish shows no agression toward him. The yellow tang and the regal tang kept pushing him into a hole for a few days. Today he seems to be getting along better with the other fish. This morning he was swimming with them, although in a corner, and he was nice and yellow. When I started feeding, he turned white and hid in a rock. I think he's more affraid of me than the other fish now.

Here's the problem. I haven't seen him eat anything but a couple of flakes of Prime Reef. He's swimming now but he has one of those little asterina (?) starfish on him. I'm ruining my water trying to blow flakes around him, while keeping the other fish distracted with more flakes. I'll do massive water changes later.

I think rabbitfish prefer mostly algae. Is Prime Reef a good food to use for trying to get him to eat? I also put some nori on a clip for him. (distanced from the other fishes clip) I don't know if he ate any of this. Frozen mysis and brine shrimp are being tried.

Is there a better food I should try?

Thanks,
Jack

[rocketeer]

He's eating nori!

[Thunderkat]

Try taking the fish out and rearranging your rockwork or decorations and then introduce the fish again. That might make them rearrange their territories and the new fish will have a chance to get one of its own. It works for freshwater fish but I don't know if it will work for salt water but its worth a try.

[rocketeer]

Yeah. That's a good suggestion. I know it would work. But, oh man...

Taking him out might push him over the edge. Maybe I can rearrange the rock with fish in there.

I've also solved territorial disputes by taking out the existing fish for a few days and giving them time out in the sump.

Jack

[CD]

He's eating nori!

Wonderful! You will find that these fish eat mostly veggies - ours will eat mysis also (but then he's a little piggie). I would also add Spirulina to his diet. You can get the frozen cubes which are really easy to feed, and your Tangs will also benefit. As far as his shyness - Hmmm...what type of Rabbitfish do you have? We have a Virgate Rabbitfish. I remember when we introduced him to the tank, he wasn't very aggressive, but he was well versed on how to defend himself if the Yellow Tang bothered him...YTs seem to be very territorial. Now, he bosses the YT. I would give it some time. If he is fed well, he will grow fast (ours sure did!), and since he has venomous spines, the other fish will quickly learn to leave him alone. One thing I will definitely recommend though - keep nori in the tank at all times! If your RF doesn't have something to nosh on, he may start eating your corals. I caught ours eating a nice colony of green zoas about three or four weeks ago, and now I make sure there is always some nori in the tank. They like to nibble on something *all* day long.

I've also noticed something else that I thought was rather funny - our RF never really slept in the rockwork when he was in the 75G. I thought he would once we got the 210G, as there are LOTS of caves for all the fish to share. Know where I caught him sleeping? Vertically - right next to the overflows. :roll

I wouldn't worry about taking out the rocks and rearranging - at this point, I think it would just add undue stress to your RF AND all the others.

Good luck with him, and keep us posted on his progress ;)

W.

[StephenA]

My rabbitfish is the meanest thing in my tank now. He started only eating nori, now her eats meat most of the time. He steals the meet from the triggers teeth.

My Rabbitfish has also killed a purple tang.

[pilot_bell777]

If you have him eating Nori...I would soak a little in Garlic and Vitamans just to keep his health up as much as possible while on the adjustment.

[rocketeer]

Thanks y'all. Every day he seems better. There are still a few bouts now and then. He doesn't eat alot yet, but he eats some.

I haven't found his species name yet. He has a black and white striped head and a yellow body with no spot. He's a pretty fish.

StephenA, yours killed a purple tang? :o Sorry to hear that. I hope mine doesn't go over to the dark side. <_<

Jack