Major dilemma w/ multiple dying fish!
 

Ok, here is the situation. I recently placed a Yellowtail Blenny, Flasher Wrasse, and Orchid Dottyback alone in my 75 gallon tank. They were in together for 2 weeks and there was nothing but harmony. I then put in a Cream Angelfish, which didnt look to be harassing or bothering the 3 other fish at all. The very next day the Flasher Wrasse is dead and the Yellowtail Blenny is acting very aggressive and constantly going after the Angel, seeking him out and actually swimming after him. So I remove the Blenny and take him back to the store and trade him back for a Juv. Mimic Tang who is nothing but healthy and energetic the whole day after adding him. The Angel again did not seem bothered by the Mimic and left him alone. Now this evening my wife, over the phone, tells me she has not seen the Tang all day and he is no where to be found. WHAT IS GOING ON? I wonder if its the Cream Angel but he does not act aggressive and just swims along the rocks all day and never visually went after anyone. Does he turn into a monster at night? Or could it be the Orchid Dotty killing everyone? The Orchid has been in the tank for the last 2 years and never bothered past residents. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Orchid dotty is most likely canidate i had same prob in my reef with a orchid . finally caught him at night kicking the ****out of my other guys took him out everyone happy . sorry for your loss. hope i helped

I never had a problem with this guy in the past 2 years though. Do you think he is just getting older and nastier?

if the dotty back was in the tank first he is probably protecting his space and the new additions will be targeted especially if he has been in there long term.

[quote]I recently placed a Yellowtail Blenny, Flasher Wrasse, and Orchid Dottyback alone in my 75 gallon tank. They were in together for 2 weeks and there was nothing but harmony. [/quote]

Did you QT before adding the three fish about two weeks ago? Any chance it is disease killing your fish, rather than aggression?

No. No signs of disease at all. They were very vibrant looking energenic and feeding well. They are there in the evening, then dead or completely missing the next day. I am just going to give up for a while and settle on the 2 fish I have. But thats the thing, why is the Angel or the Orchid still alive? Why did just those other fish get singled out? Also if it is the orchid or angel then why no signs of aggression during the daylight hours?

when you found the dead fish, did they have any marks on them, like frayed fins that would indicate they were being beat up?

any chance you have a hitchhiker mantis shrimp? (add any new live rock recently)?

have you lost anything else? did the tang die?

did you check your water quality parameters? always a good idea whenever anything is amiss.

my orchid dottyback never bothers any of my fish to any great degree, and I've had it over two years.

I don't think it is all that unusual to suddenly lose new fish within the first 2-6 weeks in a tank. they are probably at their most stressed and disease prone at that time. that's why QT is a good idea - you can keep an eye on them, watch how they eat, and keep them away from aggressive fish in the display until they are stabilized.

Well there was a mantis but he was removed prior to the tang disappearing, but I guess he could have gotten my wrasse. I also removed a yellowtail blenny prior to the tang because he was chasing down my cream angel out in open water, so I took him back to the store thinking he was the murderer. The tang disappeared the very next day after adding him to the tank and he looked great the day before. I worked a 24 hour shift the day he disappeared so by the time I got home his corpse was no where to be found, probably in my many hermits bellies. I think this is bugging me so much because its never happened to me before, every fish I have ever added thrived and stuck up for themselves. I think I will just wait it out for a while and try some semi-aggressive fish that can hold their own. Do you all have any suggestions for colorful fish that could possibly hold their own and that wont eat my crabs and snails? Or am I stuck just adding damsels to the tank now?

Screw it! I am going to buy 3-4 yellowtail blue damsels and quit stressing over this! Thanks to all that replied.

You don't just have to add damsels. A little chasing isn't going to kill anybody. Constant badgering where if they poke their head out they get hammered can be a problem but I wouln't worry too much. Your tang did not die from harrassment. He may have been caught with poison I don't know. Fish don't just fight at night. They fight in the light hours too. If you have a good fuge and can handle the load I would add three at a time(after at least a 2 week qt). Three seems to spread the aggression out. I alway add three and this is too a tank with lunar wrasse, tomato clown and three damsels.