Coral Beauty nipping

[FB]

I picked up a Coral Beauty understanding that I had a 50/50 that it would be nipping at my corals. Well mine seems to be very interested in my coral.

It's still a little shy and won't come out when I'm feeding the tank. I'm hoping that once it starts eating he may stop nipping.

Some of my coral polyps have been marginally out for a couple of days but not to often. There does not appear to be any damage. Is there any long term risks to my coral?

Anybody have any expeience with this. Should I pull him or will he start leaving them alone once he starts to eat better.

Thanks

 

[Unarce]

I would've taken him out right after the first nip

 

[Blazin__]

it already got a taste of coral... it will never quit..

 

[dnorton1978]

I had a coral beauty in my old tank. She or he had a liking for my green star polyp.

 

[FB]

Hasn't touched my GSP.

I CAN'T CATCH THE SOB.

AHHHHHHHH!

He looks like he is getting cut up by the rocks escaping my net.

 

[dnorton1978]

I did not get mine out until the old tank cam down. One thing that has worked in the past with other fish, not coral, is feed them with the net below them, and scoop them up quickly as they eat. It worked. I have heard that you can temporaly blind them if you catch them by suprise at night with the light. Of course you have the net ready and all, but that may work too.

Good luck

 

[FB]

OK, after 3 long attempts and lots of rock moving, I am still not able to catch the SOB. He continues to nip at a few selected corals. From what I can see there is not visible damage to the coral shell. However the polyps are refusing to come out.

My small pocillopora has no polyp extension however my large one has full extension. My digita has about 25% out in areas not easy for the little bastard to get to. Another one of my corals has no polyps out.

He has not eaten any of my pellet food. He has had a couple of brine when feed. I have one more idea to try and catch him but at this point I really don't know what to do. Will there be permanent damage to the coral if I leave him in the tank. If so I may have to start pulling rock.

I would really appreciate any and all opinions or ideas.

Thanks

 

[Unarce]

-You can pull out the rock he's hiding in.

-Pull out all or most of the rock for as long as 30 minutes (corals and clams would be fine).

-Buy a fish trap (may take a few days before it'll go in to feed).

-Skip a few days of feeding and try a barbless hook.

 

[lynn53]

Well this way is a little harsh, but has worked with all my fish and they have survived with not a problem. You get a tiny (#12 or so) barbless fly hook and basically fish him out. You just have to be super fast and not let your other fish bite the hook first. I just did it again with my pink tail trigger (whom is suppose to be reef safe) I moved him from a fish only to my reef tank and within days he was nipping at my pavona...well actually taking chunks out. I didn't have time to do the "net" catch. After "being hooked" he was swimming around and eating within a half hour.
I have other methods if this doesn't work for you. Let me know

 

[Anonymous]

use a glass jar with a mirror glued (silicone)to the inside bottom, mirrored sidefacing towards the mouth

rest it horizontally on the tank bottom, and wait for the fish to swim past the mouth of the jar to see it's reflection in the mirror

within a week, it will catch itself

 

[FB]

I finally got him.

I moved some rock from one end of the tank to the middle. I got him to go to that end and then placed a glass cutting board that was almost the same width of the tank. He had no where to go. The store gave me full credit for him.

I also asked them to check my water with a refractometer. It showed 1.025 while my hydrometer shows 1.021. Guess I better buy a refractometer. I pretty much know the exact amount of salt to water ratio to get me 1.025 so I'll be fine till christmas... PLEASE SANTA.