Any ideas what fish this is and how to make it stop digging??

[arch85]

Hello again all!

So we got this fish from a fellow reefer from when he was breaking down, and he didn't know what to do with it.

Of course, it's a beautiful fish (to us anyway ), but ... ever since we switched our bed from crushed coral to sand, this bugger has been digging non-stop! we can't put anything on the sand anymore! He just wiggles his tiny little butt and covers up everything in sand.

He also loves to fight when I put my hands in the tank ... feisty little fella! Anyway, if someone can help me identify it, and/or give me tips how to make him stop pouring sand on top of all of our corals, I'd greatly appreciate that!

Thanks!!

 

[firstimer]

looks like a damsel to me.

 

[MisFit]

Picture is a little blurry but probably a Caribbean blue reef chromis which is different than the typical blue or blue green chromis that come from the pacific http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1634+113&pcatid=113

 

[arch85]

Oh wow! Thanks MisFit! You nailed it! that's exactly what it looks like!! now ... to figure out how to make it stop throwing sand all over my corals ... any ideas / suggestions? We even built him a nice cave, but he just loves to wipe his butt on the sand wayyy too much haha

 

[Ruge13]

I disagree. Its a damsel I believe. I forget the specific name it was sold to me under. I have the same fish. It will claim a rock, or several rocks near the sand as its territory. Then dig holes under them like caves. Wedges his head under a crevice and then blows the sand out with his tail. Digs all day long. It won't stop. Its aggressive towards other fish. If it is the same fish it has a black and yellow stripe on its anal fin as it matures.

 

[arch85]

Hi Ruge13, yeah, that about sums up the behavior of our fish. It's odd how much similar it looks to the one that MisFit mentioned. Do you do anything to control its digging? Or just let him do what he wants, and move all the corals to higher rocks?

Thanks!

 

[Ruge13]

Exactly, higher rocks. You won't stop digging fish. Its in their DNA. Its something you have to plan for when starting a tank. This go round I did not put corals that I cared about sand covering down around the sand bed because I knew I wanted a few diggers. Gobies etc. You just have to let them do what they do. The only thing I put low are softies that can grow up through the sand or at least not sensitive to being covered like SPS.

Mine has stayed to one set of rocks for a year but I've seen some that finish up one section, then just move to a new section. My diamond goby digs under a new rock every week. Look at it this way, by constantly digging he is keeping your red mandarin fed

 

[redpaulhus]

Pomacentrus alleni

 

[stingythingy45]

It's a blue devil damsel.And it will undermine your rocks and bury your frags in sand.

 

[MisFit]

Yeah, you're right redpaulhus, neon damsel, I missed the yellow anal fin when looking at the blurry photos using my phone.