Was I crazy to do this?

I own a 29 Biocube, I had 2 small chromis and one medium yellow tail damsel (who is kinda aggressive) it always chases the 2 Chromis around if they swim deeper towards the rocks and corals

Anyway, I passed by my local store after he sent me a text saying he got a new shipment. I got a fire shrimp and a medium Regal Blue Tang.

After finishing the adaptation and conditioning, I released them both into the tank. The Damsel went ballistic on the poor tang, battering it with its tail and pushing it around. Today is the 3rd day and the tang kinda got the point to try and stay away from the damsel.

The fire shrimp however, was a quick victim of a crab problem I am having (hitchhikers, not hermit crabs) within 2 hours I found the fire shrimp not moving and when I tried to get him out with the net I found a small crab catching him by his tail and trying to pull down the meal I was trying to snatch away.

I am surprised how it died in 2 hours, plus it had no signs of attack by the crabs or anything, only its tail was a bit bitten .. I have no problems with water quality and the fish and corals are fine

I am really pissed off at the crabs, any idea how to get rid of these fast and illusive critters? They always hand inside the live rock and under it so its not easy .. even if I want to remove the damsel because of its attitude, its also not an easy catch ..

Thanks all

 

No. *Crazy* is when you get drunk and decide to paint your shoes. That LFS should have their license revoked for selling you a Tang for a 29BC. They get very large and require a lot of swimming space.

As for the shrimp, they are highly sensitive to stress, and have even been known to die while molting. Between the new environment and the crabs chasing him, he didn't have a chance.

If you can corner the crabs and blast them with a turkey baster full of freshwater, that will stun them long enough to net them out.

 

A story you would like to share with us Mr Bill?

+1 to the Freshwater stun

 

+1 to Mr. B advice, if there is one thing i have learnt in this hobby is that yellow tale blue damsels are ruthless. its the one fish that freaks even me out when he goes for a bite on my hand as I'm working in the tank. my female percale is a wuss compared.

its normal for it to go ballistic if it has set its territory (these damsels should be added last giving prior inhabitants a chance to find a home before the damsels claim it all) you may have luck with the regal tang for a very short time (I'm not at all saying its ok to keep him in a 29g), as mentioned they grow big and they grow fast. these tangs are particularly prone to ich, even in my 120 (suggested tanks of 180+ are recommended for these fish) and with the varied diet i provide, I'm still concerned for mines health in the long run.

I'm curious to know what size yours is, mine only started showing his yellow belly when he was about the size of my adult coral beauty. in fact i bought him as an ordinary blue tang (half the price of the regal) because he had not yet developed its yellow pigmentation

 

And here is mine for the record

 

this had better been a horrible joke

 

Welcome to 3Reef

+1, agree with Mr. B and others- that the LFS should have their license revoked for ever selling you a Blue Tang with a 29.
Unless you told them you were upgrading to at the least a 125 within a few months?

And as said, they are prone to ich I've heard-
I own a Blue tang- a beauty- about 7.5inches long, and growing. He thumps on the glass, etc.

I would make the lfs take it back, and give you full credit on other suitable fish/livestock/etc.
And btw- Todd's rule of thumb- 1 SW fish for every 10g of water.
you should max out at 3 SUITABLE fish IMHO.

 

Try and return the tang before the story gets worse.I feel bad for you having to deal with such a irresponsable lfs.I feel very lucky to have a very good store locally.It might be best to post here about making additions to your tank before purchasing.Try to avoid making impulse purchases even though it may be hard with all of the "beautiful" choices.

 

Well you might just have to drain the tank, remove the live rock, remove the crabs, and catch the damsel. It is a pain to do but sometimes its the only way. Also your tank is way to small for a tang, the only reason I have one in my 34 gallon tank is that when it grows bigger I am giving it to my friend to put in her 100 gallon.

 

all great advice but I can't stop wondering what color Mr. Bill's shoes are lol