Tuskfish with chromis?

[ChrisRD]

I've just added a few fish to my 180 FOWLR and my Harlequin Tusk and Kole Tang have not been giving the newcomers a warm welcome (somewhat expected)...

I added a couple of Centropyge angels (I know it's a bit risky but I've had success with this in the past) and some chromis. Normally I would not have aggressive fish like the Tusk or the tangs in the tank first, but in this case, the fish came with the rock that I got from a friend when setting up the tank so this was not an intended stocking order...

Initially the Kole was really going after the new angels. I was a bit surprised at how aggressive he was. After 24 hours he seems to have mellowed a lot. The tusk is still showing a bit of aggression toward the angels, but I'm hoping he'll get over it.

My main concern with the Tusk is the chromis. He came from a tank with a single chromis in it, so I thought this was a reasonable risk, but he seems fairly interested in making a meal out of the newcomers. I'm wondering if he'll eventually get over this...

Anyone have long term success keeping chromis with a Tusk like this or am I kidding myself that this could work out?

 

[Anonymous]

personally, I've never owned a Tusk that was overly aggressive.

How big is it compared to the Chromis?

 

[ChrisRD]

The tusk is probably ~4" and the chromis are about 1" to 1.5"...

 

[ChrisRD]

Well, after 24 hours one is missing and another looks beat-up.

During the day they stay in a tight group and the Tusk only shows half-hearted interest. The trouble seems to be at the beginning/end of the light cycle when the Chromis are coming to/from their nightime resting spots and tend to be split up...

 

[Anonymous]

Well, after 24 hours one is missing and another looks beat-up.

During the day they stay in a tight group and the Tusk only shows half-hearted interest. The trouble seems to be at the beginning/end of the light cycle when the Chromis are coming to/from their nightime resting spots and tend to be split up...

thats prolly the only time the Tusk can catch them.

like I said, I've never seen a Tusk be all that aggressive, I dont have any help for ya, sorry...

 

[ChrisRD]

I've never kept one before but I've heard mixed things about them with smaller fish. I'm sure the stocking order is not helping the situation...

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[WRASSER]

IME ir=f the tusk can eat it he will try, but i think the chromis are too big for him to eat. If you had bought something like a neon goby then i would be consern.
He probably is just telling the newbes, hey this is the rock i sleep in STAY AWAY or ELSE :wink: