ID This Blenny

Seems my tomini tang is being 'overly' territorial and has been going after the tribal blenny. Tried getting the tomini out yesterday with no success.

Here's what's happened to the blenny. He's eating but being restricted to a small corner of the tank in the rear...the tomini being aggressive whenever he seems the critter.

 

Tomini Tang's are pretty well known for their aggression. They are also notorious for picking on blennys. You said you tried to catch the Tomini, so I guess this means you have somewhere else to keep it? Also, sometimes, perhaps the order of introduction can help with this perhaps maybe take them both out for a while, rearrange your scape a bit and reintroduce your blenny. Let him play around for a week or two to get used to the area. Then you could try introducing the Tomini. It may have no effect as the Tomini just my be aggressive by nature toward the other fish, but I have read stories were the order of introduction can keep some species at peace. I think yellow tangs can school but they have to be introduced together or they are territorial and fight. Least that is what I read. I have no first hand experience with any of this fish. I do read a lot though.

 

Your tank is a little small for a tang and that could be the reason for its aggresiveness.

 

i don't think reintroduction will help the tang

 

Hmm... Regarding their temperament, I've not read any authoritative source indicating that they are aggressive. Actually, have read that they are peaceful. See here (one source): Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Bristletooth Tomini Tang

Yes, I've also read on forums where some have had issues with aggression but have probably read about as many folks who have not had aggression issues with them. On blennys and tangs specifically, can you cite a source?

If I succeed in getting him out, he'll go into my qt at which point I will put him up for adoption. Getting the blenny out will likely be at least as difficult or more so than getting the tomini out. I'm preparing a fish trap for the tomini unless I cone across another idea.

I'm on board with adding highly territorial and more aggressive fish last but his behavior had not been predicted. I know several people who care take and raise tangs in all sorts of tank sizes; these same hobbyists have been successful in keeping groups of tangs together.

 

I've heard this from several 'tang' people. That's a reason for me to give him up for adoption.

 

Regarding my tomini, he's the only tang in the tank and is barely 3" nose to tip of tail. Hardly in too small a tank, especially as the tank as only a few very small fish: 2 small (1.5" clowns), royal gramma, very small yellow watchman goby, 1 pj cardinal, and the blenny.

 

i've heard of people's tangs making life miserable for blennies many times on forums. i think Wetwebmedia, Aquarium, Pond, Marine and Freshwater Fish, reef tanks, and Aquatics Information has articles on it, stating that the reason is they both have algae as their main food source.

 

Tangs grow you know.:

 

Not coming up with a negative search with tominis and tribal blenny. On tangs, my research results vary broadly on the size and type of tang, tank size, order of introductions, etc.

Would love to hear from someone with direct experience on this problem with the tomini and blenny. I had plans to replace the tomini with a kole tang - several sources cite him as peaceful and no contraindications that I've seen about putting him with a tribal or similar.

Thanks!