Shane Hoffman
03/13/2010, 11:42 AM
So a little background and advice. First the advice, dont assume anything in this hobby.
About 6 weeks ago against my better judgement I purchased a 4 inch long sailfin tang, an absolutely stunning specimen. I have a 150 gallon tank that already has a 6 inch yellow and 5 inch hippo who are both pretty docile. I introduced the fish at night and rearranged some of the rock to help negate the initial aggression. The yellow and sailfin fought like cats and dogs for about 3 days with the sailfin getting the brunt of the damage. His fins were pretty chewed up but the fighting subsided and he began to heal. After about 10 days they were all the best of friends. On day 14 my sailfin was gone. I looked every where I could. I have a HOB overflow, I stuck my hand in it and couldnt feel anything. I wrote him off as dead and buried in the rock work. I monitored amonia and trates closely for a week just in case. I decided not to replace him after still not seeing him for another week. All of a sudden I started having issues with my U tube overflow losing suction, which is odd because it hasnt ever lost suction in the 2 years I have been using it. I finally climbed up on a step stool to see if a snail was down in my overflow after it lost suction the 2nd time. What do I see.....Yep my sailfin.....he had been in the overflow for close to 4 weeks. He was a bit emaciated but other than that beautiful. When I first released him he swam like he was stiff almost like his muscles atrophied. anyhow, just thought I would share. Never assume your overflow is fishless unless you see with your own eyes that it is fishless. The tang must of been on the other side of the box which is only 3 inches wide when I stuck my hand in to check it......
About 6 weeks ago against my better judgement I purchased a 4 inch long sailfin tang, an absolutely stunning specimen. I have a 150 gallon tank that already has a 6 inch yellow and 5 inch hippo who are both pretty docile. I introduced the fish at night and rearranged some of the rock to help negate the initial aggression. The yellow and sailfin fought like cats and dogs for about 3 days with the sailfin getting the brunt of the damage. His fins were pretty chewed up but the fighting subsided and he began to heal. After about 10 days they were all the best of friends. On day 14 my sailfin was gone. I looked every where I could. I have a HOB overflow, I stuck my hand in it and couldnt feel anything. I wrote him off as dead and buried in the rock work. I monitored amonia and trates closely for a week just in case. I decided not to replace him after still not seeing him for another week. All of a sudden I started having issues with my U tube overflow losing suction, which is odd because it hasnt ever lost suction in the 2 years I have been using it. I finally climbed up on a step stool to see if a snail was down in my overflow after it lost suction the 2nd time. What do I see.....Yep my sailfin.....he had been in the overflow for close to 4 weeks. He was a bit emaciated but other than that beautiful. When I first released him he swam like he was stiff almost like his muscles atrophied. anyhow, just thought I would share. Never assume your overflow is fishless unless you see with your own eyes that it is fishless. The tang must of been on the other side of the box which is only 3 inches wide when I stuck my hand in to check it......