An interesting thing that I’ve realised, is that I have a lot of fish that I’ve had since I started out, like the Yellow and Regal Tangs, Blue Throat Triggers, Chromis, Damsels, Dougy my Blenny, and many more and these are all unaffected by any possible issues that arose, if there were infact any, in the tank. So all of my core marine friends, thankfully, are alive and well and thriving with no signs of any illness.
So all of the long terms inhabitants are fine, but some of the fish I’ve added in the last 6-12 months are the ones that seem to have suffered, not necessary recently, and this leads me to think that although they were ‘allowed’ to live in the reef, they may well have been doing so under a cloud and threat from the other fish, and as such didn’t completely fit in or fully accepted. To this end many have, over a period of time, succumbed for whatever reason, starvation, reduced immunity due to stress etc. There have been a few, and it’s only when I think we’re is that wrasse, or whatever you realise that they’ve gone!
Adding the sea anemone may have brought some bacterial issue, but probably not. At the time the Chevron Tang passed, I had forgotten that he had had a small round batch on his side, that had been there for 6 months, and I often wondered what it was and possibly that was what killed him finally.
I think we forget that when we’re adding new fish to our tanks, were interfering with the homes and territories of the existing occupants who have their boundaries and don’t want us messing with them, and I can now understand why new fish are often harassed to death when I happily drop them in expecting them all to get on like long lost friends. They basically don’t.
Anyway, all is well so let’s get back on track with a picture one of my new marine friends......
