Aquarium Territoriality

[omard]

Based on much observation ( ) my tank has very well defined fiefdoms.

The upper left corner is "Maroon Corner." Occupied by my pair of mated Maroon clowns and monster BTA. They generally are pretty leinent about letting other fish (except the damsels) wander about in their space unless they have eggs laid down (which is most of the time) - then woe to anyone who even appears to be getting close to their corner.

The lower left corner is "Wrasse country" --- they generally are the only ones to hang out there. Don't really defend it if somebody else wanders in. And generally like to play about in the heavy current that is in that part of the tank.

The center of the tank is pretty much "open" space where all can gather and socialize generrally pretty peacefully. Except near the bottom where a, at times, is a very grumpy shrimp goby. Any hermit entering his space can be expected to be dragged into his den. (no harm to them - just a temporary captive) - He will often "charge" other fish approaching his hole too closely.

The bi-color blenny stays perched in a crevice at the highest part of the center of the tank, where he can keep an eye on all going on below him. He will make quick dashes to other areas of the tank, but quickly returns in short order to his favorite spot.

The upper right section of the tank is the "Damsels territory" --- any fish visiting that area is likely to be run off by a pair of blue yellow tails and a pair of Humbug Dycilus damsels which control that space. They usually just sqabble among themselves and leave everyone else be, except for that corner of the tank.

For some reason the Coral Beauty, which wanders just about anywhere, periodically seems to enjoy going into the damsels area and mixing it up with them. Alot of chasing about with no real harm coming to anyone.

The only fish that can go anywhere without being bothered by anything or anyone is the little dragonett. Which is so utterly peaceful and just intent on inspecting every little hole and crevice for something to eat, that all else just ignor him.

Ok, that was fun - what "boundaries" do you have in your tank?

[jtReef]

left side my 3 cleaner shrimp and yellow watchman goby hang out. Right side flame and peppermint shrimp. The center has my clownfish who tries to hold it's own but the tangs are to large and the wrass to quick.
The rest just do what they want. 4 tangs (yellow, hippo, powder brown, naso), 7 yellow green damsils. manderine and scooter gobies, few wrasse. There are another 5 gobies in there somewhere however I rarly see them so I have no idea where they hang out :-)

[Willieo101587]

Don't have that many fish, but they have clearly divided my tank into zones. The yellow tang just goes wherever it wants since it's the largest. The yellowtail damsels each take up a quarter of the tank, and the clownfish rarely ventures out of the upper right hand corner of the tank.

[djnzlab1]

HI,
I wonder if maroons gravitate to the left side of the tank. This is also were my two returns from my dual marineland canisters enter the tank the flow is tremendous. Maybe they like high water flow.
My two maroons hang out top left corner behind a rock, they share their corner with two skunks a few pepermints and snails and occasional hermit wanders thru no problem if I move a rock or even touch my pumps intakez they nail me with considereable force and aggresion, and my royal gamma keeps loosing a piece of his tail in that area. here's bonny and clyde attacking a three stripe and the royal gamma for venturing in to the no mans zone.


My clarki all four love LTA;s and will defend them with their life. One day I had to retrieve one of the LTA from the rock piles and didn't even know one of the clarki was in the LTA and wouldn't come out till I placed it in the correct position and corraled it with small rock then he promptly bit me.WHen they get big I feel teeth I don't bleed yet but expect to as they grow larger.

My LTA can and will try to sting me if I move them it feels like velcro dragging across your skin I ve read it can casue allergic reaction in some people similar to bee stings with airway problems. If your hyper sensative that may be a good reason to avoid them cause they never stay put and they sting every thing they touch unless you can get under them and grab the foot if you hold them they will close up,
A couple of those 3 strip damsels try to sneak around but pretty much stay in the rock rubble. The angel and the tang are chummy and wander around nibbling alage all day.
Everything else just cruises around near the surface one of my favorite fish are the cheep chromis they are really gentle and I ve seen them groom the tang on occasions like the skunks do.

[coral reefer]

No boundaries except fot the two Sargent Majors, the one dominant one constantly chases the other one all day. Kind of annoying and I will be taking them out of my tank at some time in the near future!

[Noble]

Cool Thread
My false percs take the left corner, while the firefish hangs dead center of the tank. Squirt the six-line cruises the rockwork all day and Lenny the blenny goes from perch to perch. Sonny the fire shrimp hangs upside down under the clownfish home and the urchin reaks as much havoc as possible.

[sssnake]

Cool thread indeed!

My false perc occupies the right back side of the tank .. up and down like an elevator. He'll wander out and explore the rest of the tank every now and then but like a magnet he'll go back to his corner.

The cleaner shrimp, fire shrimp and peppermints have taken residence on the left side under an elevated island of rock.

My coral beauty will go anywhere she pleases, in and around all nooks and crannies she can fit through.

The snails, ...well, snails will be snails, no allegiance to any specific part of the tank. Just where the algae grows.

My tank is in the early stages so my stock is limited for the moment. Stocking very slowly.

Cheers

[omard]

Originally Posted by sssnake

The snails, ...well, snails will be snails, no allegiance to any specific part of the tank. Just where the algae grows.

My large snails space themselves out pretty symetrically - expect to maximize grazing room.

The small nuisance snails I used to be cursed with are down to very few thanks to my sixline which has become quite chubby.