underfeeding or...

[-madmax-]

ok, i'm not sure why, but both my 2 damsels and my tomato clown use there back fin to stir up my dsb and 'dig'.

it first started about a week ago with just the 2 damsels and today i saw the clown doing the same thing... he also goes back after this and pick's up sand with his mouth and brings it over to another spot ????

any advise ?

 

[-madmax-]

no one ?

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
Not too sure about clown, but damsels are know to do that. Probably related to nesting, but that is just a guess.

I doubt that it is related to underfeeding.

 

[Reef Fever]

They could also be looking for critters to eat, which I would not think of as being a sign of underfeeding. Both Clowns and Damsels always act hungry, even with a bellyfull of artemia. Fish are just eating machines.

I would not worry about them at all, just enjoy the show.

 

[-madmax-]

hmm, maybe i did't make my fear clear enought, but if they don't stop that my DSB is history soon !

:evil:

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
Known as the "interior designers of aquarium," I usually leave damsels out of my tanks. For the clown, maybe it will settle down a little if you can keep a host anemone in your tank.... assuming that you have appropriate water quality and good lighting.

How old is the DSB? If it is relatively young, it may be not worth saving anyway... Sometimes, putting a plastic mesh one inch below the sand surface can prevent the DSB below from being ruined.

 

[Reef Fever]

I agree with seven. The damsels just will not leave ANYTHING alone. Sand bed, rock arrangements, girlfriends, etc. They will ruin your life. They will even drink your last beer and leave potato chip crumbs in your dip.

They really don't work well in a reef, feed them to a Lionfish or an eel. :twisted:

 

[-madmax-]

thanks guys...

hmm, this tank was my first try.... i guess next time i try seven ephors
idea and use a plastic mesh and leave the damsels out !

is there any good reference which list all "real" reef safe fish ?

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
It is too much work to take the rock out, lay the mesh, and add some more sand, and put the rock back in? (good time to catch that b@stard damsel too, if you want it out)

 

[DKKA]

My Tomato clown is also a master decorator, and terror on sand. That's why I left him out of my new tank and banished him to the tank in the basement.
Y ou may want to consider selling the fish back to the pet store, instead of trying the plastic mesh.
Good luck,
Dan

 

[xKEIGOx]

They are just decorating and cleaning thier own home. You try to cover the hole that they dig did you? They will dig it again. and angry of you to disturb thier home interio~! :evil:

 

[Anonymous]

i've had clowns and dams pick up and move 2" rock rubble pieces :!: if you want to keep the clowns, etc. you can also try the plastic 'grid' grating- it's better than screen(doesn't block critters that need to from entering and leaving the lsb like snails and larger worms)put the grid on the bed you have now, and add another 1/2" sand on top.(i've also had clowns 'tail paddle' new caves below rock, which can cause toppling-be aware,and make sure the lower rocks are squarely seated....but i'll have to agree that unless your really into 'em, they are a big hassle.
'reef safe' is a mildly loaded question-but plenty of people here should be able to give you list suggestions-are your priorities geared more toward community, or coral, compatability, or both?and what size is your tank?

 

[-madmax-]

hmm, well is there someone with e 'real' list of reef safe fish ? or not !

i'mean i was told before that damsels could be a problem but i had multiple people telling me that tmomato clown are reef safe !

i jut wanna now before getting more fish...

the tank is a 75 bowfront with 4 inch dsb and about 140 # live rock

 

[Anonymous]

that's why it's a loaded question;everyone has their own definition of safe, and everyone has different experiences with the same fish.(example- some people keep 'coral eating angels in a reef tank with no problem,some people have a relatively reef safe dwarf angel that chows on everything!)if you like clowns, try some of the less (generally-from now on these are all generalizations-be aware)aggresives, like the percs or ocellaris.cardinalfish(banggai, p.j.)are cool,6&8 line wrasses, lots of goby/blenny sp., tangs(need room)anyone else?(it would also help to know what inverts you're planning to go with)

 

[danmhippo]

Usually when they starts digging, they dig only one or two spots in your tank. I would put a couple pieces of LR where they last digged.

 

[Anonymous]

Madmax,

Do you have any fish books?

I bought "A PocketExpert Guide - Marine Fishes", by Scott W. Micheal.

It's a small (400 page) handbook that covers most of the marine fishes that you are likely to encounter. It tell which fish are supposed to be reef safe, or not. It also describes that type of tank they sould be in, size, lighting, etc. and what types of food they require.

Get a book, I'm sure there are plenty of other books that will help you make your best educated decision. But, like others have said, each fish has a mind of it's own. :roll:

HTH

Louey

 

[reefsRcool]

ok, maybe i'm missing something but what's the problem? just let the fish resculpt the sandbed as they see fit. I have a goby that basically spends all it's time moviing my sand and the result was a really cool looking aquascape which is always changing. definatly rearange a little if they take to burying corals but other then that let them do their thing is what i say. I'm totally not into the screen thing, that is absolutly stupid.

 

[-madmax-]

thanks to everyone for the reply's...

i guess i start with buyinf a book and read a little more about all the fish

to reefsRcool:

i'm not sure if you understood the problem. the tanksetup is based on a dsb (deep sand bed) 5 inch i my case which should not be disturbed! deeper then 1 inch....