What is the best time to add a new fish to the tank?

[RubenD]

Everytime I add a new fish to my tank, the other tenants surround it and
show some territorial behavior, especially my dear damsells. This cause
stress to the new fish. My questions is, if you add the fish with the
lights out, would it make a difference in the morning?

Less traumatic perhaps?

I ask because I added a lawnmower blenny and he got chase even from the
yellow tang, and still being bother by the blue tang and of course my
damsell. By the way, the damsell have a particular behavior when bullying,
he shake his tail on the face of the other fish, why is that?

At the same time I put a tunnel digger goby, 2 days later he was dead with
blood stains on one side (inside), which suggested me he might have eaten a
crab and got cut inside.

I'm planning to add either a tiny yellow goby (I'm still considering due to
the damsell) or a coral beauty which seems more safe to the coral than the
butterflies.

Daytime or Nightime, that is the question?

TIA

Ruben

[Wayne Sallee]

The best timing is usually turning the lights out, and
then adding the fish.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



RubenD wrote on 12/30/2006 8:29 PM:
> Everytime I add a new fish to my tank, the other tenants surround it and
> show some territorial behavior, especially my dear damsells. This cause
> stress to the new fish. My questions is, if you add the fish with the
> lights out, would it make a difference in the morning?
>
> Less traumatic perhaps?
>
> I ask because I added a lawnmower blenny and he got chase even from the
> yellow tang, and still being bother by the blue tang and of course my
> damsell. By the way, the damsell have a particular behavior when bullying,
> he shake his tail on the face of the other fish, why is that?
>
> At the same time I put a tunnel digger goby, 2 days later he was dead with
> blood stains on one side (inside), which suggested me he might have eaten a
> crab and got cut inside.
>
> I'm planning to add either a tiny yellow goby (I'm still considering due to
> the damsell) or a coral beauty which seems more safe to the coral than the
> butterflies.
>
> Daytime or Nightime, that is the question?
>
> TIA
>
> Ruben
>
>

[Kelsey Cummings]

Wayne Sallee wrote:
> The best timing is usually turning the lights out, and then adding the
> fish.

I heard it also helps to move the rock work around to mess everyone's
territories up a bit. Especially if you have very territorial fish.

-K

[Teri G.]

The best time to add a new fish is before the YT and damsels. ;-)

Better, yet, remove the damels altogether; they'll never give you anything
but grief.

"At the same time I put a tunnel digger goby, 2 days later he was dead with
blood stains on one side (inside), which suggested me he might have eaten
a
crab and got cut inside."

Very much doubt that any goby is going to eat a crab.

What size tank are these fish in? Like everyone else has said, after lights
out (or close to), is best. Moving some of the rock around to de-establish
territory helps.

Good luck - I've torn down a couple reef tanks now to remove the last blue
damsel,or 'peaceful' chromis. Never again.

Teri
http://home.comcast.net/~76fxe



"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> The best timing is usually turning the lights out, and then adding the
> fish.
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
>
> RubenD wrote on 12/30/2006 8:29 PM:
>> Everytime I add a new fish to my tank, the other tenants surround it and
>> show some territorial behavior, especially my dear damsells. This
>> cause
>> stress to the new fish. My questions is, if you add the fish with the
>> lights out, would it make a difference in the morning?
>>
>> Less traumatic perhaps?
>>
>> I ask because I added a lawnmower blenny and he got chase even from the
>> yellow tang, and still being bother by the blue tang and of course my
>> damsell. By the way, the damsell have a particular behavior when
>> bullying,
>> he shake his tail on the face of the other fish, why is that?
>>
>> At the same time I put a tunnel digger goby, 2 days later he was dead
>> with
>> blood stains on one side (inside), which suggested me he might have
>> eaten a
>> crab and got cut inside.
>>
>> I'm planning to add either a tiny yellow goby (I'm still considering due
>> to
>> the damsell) or a coral beauty which seems more safe to the coral than
>> the
>> butterflies.
>>
>> Daytime or Nightime, that is the question?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Ruben
>>

[Wayne Sallee]

I'm not a big fan of that method, because it causes the
other fish to have to fight out new territories. And it
defiantly is not a good thing to be doing in an
established reef tank.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Kelsey Cummings wrote on 12/30/2006 11:30 PM:
> Wayne Sallee wrote:
>> The best timing is usually turning the lights out, and then adding the
>> fish.
>
> I heard it also helps to move the rock work around to mess everyone's
> territories up a bit. Especially if you have very territorial fish.
>
> -K

[George Patterson]

Kelsey Cummings wrote:

> I heard it also helps to move the rock work around to mess everyone's
> territories up a bit. Especially if you have very territorial fish.

It took me days to work out the arrangement I have. It's not getting changed.

George Patterson
Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

[Guayni SAHS]

"RubenD" > wrote in message
om...
> Everytime I add a new fish to my tank, the other tenants surround it and
> show some territorial behavior, especially my dear damsells. This cause
> stress to the new fish. My questions is, if you add the fish with the
> lights out, would it make a difference in the morning?
>
> Less traumatic perhaps?
>
> I ask because I added a lawnmower blenny and he got chase even from the
> yellow tang, and still being bother by the blue tang and of course my
> damsell. By the way, the damsell have a particular behavior when
> bullying,
> he shake his tail on the face of the other fish, why is that?
>
> At the same time I put a tunnel digger goby, 2 days later he was dead
> with
> blood stains on one side (inside), which suggested me he might have eaten
> a
> crab and got cut inside.
>
> I'm planning to add either a tiny yellow goby (I'm still considering due
> to
> the damsell) or a coral beauty which seems more safe to the coral than the
> butterflies.
>
> Daytime or Nightime, that is the question?
>
> TIA
>
> Ruben
>

Adding new fish to any tank is always stressful to both the resident and the
newcomer.
I disagree with those expressing preference to do it with the lights out.
Just imagine yourself thrown in a dark room full of enemies. Where are you
going to hide? can't see!
There will always be fights even in compatible fish.

1. Keeping the livestock to an inch of fish per gallon is my rule of thumb.
2. Plenty of hiding places is a must
3. Fish must be compatible and species grouped by size. If you have big
damsels, don't add peaceful species that are smaller or that may compete for
food with them.
http://www.timstropicals.com/sal****er/Compatibility/CompatibilitySearch.asp
4. When? I prefer to add the fish half an hour to an hour before lights
out. At least they get the chance to find a hiding spot before lights-out.
In the dark, residents can travel around the tank easily. Again, there will
always be competition.

For example, I have a Yellow Tang 5 inches long that is the strongest one in
my tank. I added a juvenile Koran Angelfish and for two days the Tang just
beat the heck out of him (no serious damage thou). When I was about to pull
him out, they became the best of friends even sharing the same hiding
places.

I never like to compare fish to humans but as an analogy, this happens
everytime a kid moves into a new school: it takes time to establish
presence. Remember, 99% of these animals is the first time they see another
fish in his feeding ground, at least of the new species.

Another example; my Regal Demoiselle when I introduced a Clarkii Clownfish
she went nuts. The Clown was twice her size but she kept going at it and
following him around the tank. Once the Clown established presence and
fought back, the Regal just stopped. They became good friends. The Clown
died of age and I was looking for another to replace him. Well, I was
buying food for my dog in Petco out of all places I saw a stock of many
juvenile Clarkii. I couldn't believe it and bought 4; there were like 20 of
them. The Tang attacked them for 2 days, the Koran did as the Tang but not
as aggressive. It was amazing that the Regal only kept them away from his
den, she knew them already.

Now I have 6 different species co-existing in a 100 gallons system. I used
the site above to find compatible fish.

[George Patterson]

Guayni; SAHS wrote:

> I disagree with those expressing preference to do it with the lights out.
> Just imagine yourself thrown in a dark room full of enemies. Where are you
> going to hide? can't see!

I once had a powder blue that was very territorial. I added a fish once with the
lights out, but you could see the tang chasing it all over the place. I think
they may be able to see a good deal better in limited light than we can. For
that matter, the chasee seemed to be able to see pretty well too!

Of course, that tang would chase a new addition with the lights on, so I think
it doesn't make any real difference.

George Patterson
Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

[Blackheart - Ex WoW Subscriber]

RubenD wrote:
> Everytime I add a new fish to my tank, the other tenants surround it and
> show some territorial behavior, especially my dear damsells. This cause
> stress to the new fish. My questions is, if you add the fish with the
> lights out, would it make a difference in the morning?
>
>

there are two proper ways to add new fish to a tank with Damsels.

Method 1: Don't add new fish, you have Damsels.

Method 2: Take the Damsels out and replace them with the new fish.

There's a reason you can get most Damsels for under $5.

[George Patterson]

Blackheart - Ex WoW Subscriber wrote:

> There's a reason you can get most Damsels for under $5.

Yeah. I was in the local LFS buying food the other day, and one of the employees
was doing the old shuck & jive selling some kid damsels to cycle his new tank. I
bit my tongue.

George Patterson
Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

[Wayne Sallee]

Guayni; SAHS wrote on 1/1/2007 9:42 PM:
> I disagree with those expressing preference to do it with the lights out.
> Just imagine yourself thrown in a dark room full of enemies. Where are you
> going to hide? can't see!
> There will always be fights even in compatible fish.
snip ,,,

> 4. When? I prefer to add the fish half an hour to an hour before lights
> out. At least they get the chance to find a hiding spot before lights-out.
> In the dark, residents can travel around the tank easily. Again, there will
> always be competition.

Yea I often do it that way, put the fish in, watch it long
enough to make sure it has time to get some familiarity
with it's environment (around 10 minutes), and then turn
off the light.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets

[Wayne Sallee]

Yea it's not a sure thing, but what turning the lights off
does, is it sends a signal to the other fish that it's
time to sleep.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



George Patterson wrote on 1/1/2007 10:22 PM:
> Guayni; SAHS wrote:
>
>> I disagree with those expressing preference to do it with the lights out.
>> Just imagine yourself thrown in a dark room full of enemies. Where
>> are you going to hide? can't see!
>
> I once had a powder blue that was very territorial. I added a fish once
> with the lights out, but you could see the tang chasing it all over the
> place. I think they may be able to see a good deal better in limited
> light than we can. For that matter, the chasee seemed to be able to see
> pretty well too!
>
> Of course, that tang would chase a new addition with the lights on, so I
> think it doesn't make any real difference.
>
> George Patterson
> Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

[Wayne Sallee]

Considering how many people kill their first fish, it's a
lot easier on the customers pocket book :-)

Also one does not even need fish to cycle a tank. A person
can use other methods such as adding the amount of fish
food that such fish would normally eat.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



George Patterson wrote on 1/2/2007 10:58 AM:
> Blackheart - Ex WoW Subscriber wrote:
>
>> There's a reason you can get most Damsels for under $5.
>
> Yeah. I was in the local LFS buying food the other day, and one of the
> employees was doing the old shuck & jive selling some kid damsels to
> cycle his new tank. I bit my tongue.
>
> George Patterson
> Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

[Add Homonym]

Guayni; SAHS wrote:

>
> Adding new fish to any tank is always stressful to both the resident and the
> newcomer.
> I disagree with those expressing preference to do it with the lights out.
> Just imagine yourself thrown in a dark room full of enemies. Where are you
> going to hide? can't see!
> There will always be fights even in compatible fish.
>
> 1. Keeping the livestock to an inch of fish per gallon is my rule of thumb.

?!?!?! INCH PER GALLON? I have always heard more like an inch per 3-4
gallons. 55 inches of fish total in a 55 gal tank?!?!

[Add Homonym]

George Patterson wrote:
> Guayni; SAHS wrote:
>
>> I disagree with those expressing preference to do it with the lights out.
>> Just imagine yourself thrown in a dark room full of enemies. Where
>> are you going to hide? can't see!
>
>
> I once had a powder blue that was very territorial. I added a fish once
> with the lights out, but you could see the tang chasing it all over the
> place. I think they may be able to see a good deal better in limited
> light than we can. For that matter, the chasee seemed to be able to see
> pretty well too!
>
> Of course, that tang would chase a new addition with the lights on, so I
> think it doesn't make any real difference.
>
> George Patterson
> Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

Having the lights off for a couple hours will lower the fishes
metabolsim a bit. That might make them less aggessive, or might not.

[George Patterson]

Add Homonym wrote:

> Having the lights off for a couple hours will lower the fishes
> metabolsim a bit. That might make them less aggessive, or might not.

I've had two fish that tended to get more aggressive when the lights went out.
One was *very* bad. That was an Imperator Angel. He would wait until other fish
went to sleep and then attack them. He killed hundreds of dollars worth of fish
in my tank. I finally traded him in for store credit.

George Patterson
Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

[Guayni SAHS]

"Add Homonym" > wrote in message
...
> Guayni; SAHS wrote:
>
>>
>> Adding new fish to any tank is always stressful to both the resident and
>> the newcomer.
>> I disagree with those expressing preference to do it with the lights out.
>> Just imagine yourself thrown in a dark room full of enemies. Where are
>> you going to hide? can't see!
>> There will always be fights even in compatible fish.
>>
>> 1. Keeping the livestock to an inch of fish per gallon is my rule of
>> thumb.
>
> ?!?!?! INCH PER GALLON? I have always heard more like an inch per 3-4
> gallons. 55 inches of fish total in a 55 gal tank?!?!
Is not that much...
To put 55 inches of fish in a 55gal tank is not correct.
You have to subtract from that volume all the water displaced by liverock
and other things that occupy space.
Once you have all that subtracted you'll end up with less than 50% of your
55 gallons.
25 inches of fish will include your inverts!
In a 55gal you will only be able to keep like 15 inches of benthonic and
nektonic fish. It will all go down to 4 or 5 fish averaging 3 inches.
Is that a lot?