Tang, strange behavior

hkgar · 08/17/2018, 04:14 PM

We need a forum called something like "fish psychoanalysis"
Why is my Purple Tang swimming into my Montipora Cap and doing this for about an minute than swimming away only to return a few minutes later an doing it again?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3tpmjtGxC1yytgjP8

Gorgok · 08/17/2018, 04:36 PM

Do tangs do the same egg fanning thing clowns do?

Tripod1404 · 08/17/2018, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

We need a forum called something like "fish psychoanalysis"
Why is my Purple Tang swimming into my Montipora Cap and doing this for about an minute than swimming away only to return a few minutes later an doing it again?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3tpmjtGxC1yytgjP8

Is it rubbing any part of its body? Maybe it has an itch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorgok

Do tangs do the same egg fanning thing clowns do?

No, tangs are egg scatters, they dont attach their eggs to a substrate.

hkgar · 08/17/2018, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripod1404

Is it rubbing any part of its body? Maybe it has an itch.

No, does not appear to be rubbing.

Tripod1404 · 08/17/2018, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

No, does not appear to be rubbing.

Hmm that is very strange. Maybe it is mistaking the bright color of the monti for a type of cleaner.

I had an anthias that would stand next to a red glass thermometer over and over again. Is stopped doing it after I got red cleaner shrimp, now it does the same behavior towards the shrimp. I assume the bright red color of the thermometer caused the anthias to mistake it for a cleaner shrimp.

Do you have any cleaner shrimp or cleaner fish like neon gobies?

Uncle99 · 08/17/2018, 06:25 PM

Maybe he's trying to tell somebody to stay clear, this is mine?

tonyjd34 · 08/18/2018, 09:20 AM

looks stressed to me.

hkgar · 08/18/2018, 09:44 AM

No cleaners in the tank

Stress is doubtful. I have had him for 3+ years and this behavior has just started. No new additions to the tank in over 6 months.

The bully in the tank is my Atlantic Blue but he pretty much only goes after my Two Barred rabbitfish and that is only at feeding time. He doesn't like to share.

RioReefr · 08/18/2018, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripod1404

Maybe it is mistaking the bright color of the monti for a type of cleaner.

I think he is right. I had a tang that would hover over a cleaner shrimp (just like that for a minute). It could be some pest or itch (not ich) he is trying to rid. My tang liked peppermint shrimps too and let them crawl all over him until he got annoyed and dashed off.

ROlympia · 08/18/2018, 09:27 PM

I have two thoughts: one, there's good flow there. My brown tang does similar in the current of a powerhead.

Second: he's about to poop and he can catch the poop better if he does it there. Mine does that as well.

hkgar · 08/19/2018, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROlympia

I have two thoughts: one, there's good flow there. My brown tang does similar in the current of a powerhead.

Second: he's about to poop and he can catch the poop better if he does it there. Mine does that as well.

Why would it want to "catch the poop"? True when my large fish, particularly the herbivores, poop a type of feeding frenzy starts, but they generally spit it out.

ROlympia · 08/19/2018, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Why would it want to "catch the poop"? True when my large fish, particularly the herbivores, poop a type of feeding frenzy starts, but they generally spit it out.

Mine always catches its poop and eats it. He'll wait behind the other fish and eat their's too - especially the starry blenny which makes big poops.

hkgar · 08/20/2018, 10:07 AM

I thought only dogs did that. I had a dog that would stand by the cat box when the cat went, to get it straight from the oven. sorry, disgusting.

08/17/2018, 04:14 PM	#1
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Tang, strange behavior We need a forum called something like "fish psychoanalysis" Why is my Purple Tang swimming into my Montipora Cap and doing this for about an minute than swimming away only to return a few minutes later an doing it again? https://photos.app.goo.gl/3tpmjtGxC1yytgjP8 __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/18/2018, 09:44 AM	#8
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	No cleaners in the tank Stress is doubtful. I have had him for 3+ years and this behavior has just started. No new additions to the tank in over 6 months. The bully in the tank is my Atlantic Blue but he pretty much only goes after my Two Barred rabbitfish and that is only at feeding time. He doesn't like to share. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/20/2018, 10:07 AM	#13
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I thought only dogs did that. I had a dog that would stand by the cat box when the cat went, to get it straight from the oven. sorry, disgusting. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/17/2018, 04:36 PM	#2
Gorgok Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 1,904	Do tangs do the same egg fanning thing clowns do?

08/17/2018, 06:25 PM	#6
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Maybe he's trying to tell somebody to stay clear, this is mine?

08/18/2018, 09:20 AM	#7
tonyjd34 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 19	looks stressed to me.

08/18/2018, 09:27 PM	#10
ROlympia Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 138	I have two thoughts: one, there's good flow there. My brown tang does similar in the current of a powerhead. Second: he's about to poop and he can catch the poop better if he does it there. Mine does that as well.