achilles tang 'pacing' along glass - problem?

[Dudester]

I've had a juvenile achilles tang in my tank for about 7 weeks now. When introduced it was pale and thin, but it has grown nicely with a little belly and very dark coloration. Over the past 2 days I've noticed that it swims along one end of the tank, going back and forth, as if it were begging. This happens to be the side of the tank where I clip nori. At any rate, I offered nori and it ate hardily, but even after devouring the clip's contents and after eating it's regular more meaty meal it continues to pace along that side of the tank. At night it sleeps among the rocks as usual. There are no other signs of distress, no scratching along the rocks, the eyes are clear and there are no lesions on the body. I am concerned because these fish are notoriously difficult to keep and I'd like to nip a problem in the bud if this indicates something worse on the horizon. Should I be concerned or just chill?

 

[paulamrein]

Well, there is a good chance that it has a parasite simply because of the fact it's an achilles. The pacing, from what I have researched could be that you may need more flow. When they are in conditions of lower flow they think the are in a tide pool and trying to find a way out possibly. Again, it's not from experience beings though I've never had one, but from what I read. I could be way off base here so take it for what it is, as a possibility.

 

[Dudester]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. Between the Wavebox and the Barracuda running the 4-way CL, there's a ton of flow in my tank, albeit admittedly less than the fish's natural environment. The strange thing is that the fish didn't act in this way during the first 7 weeks in the tank. I, like you, am worried about a parasite, but it's getting fatter and eating well, so hopefully whatever it is will run its course. Again, I don't want to over-react and remove it into a QT which could increase the fish's stress level if I don't have to. I'm only wittnessing a behavioral change, no other signs of physiologic stress.

 

[paulamrein]

I think it warrants a google search if you haven't already done so. It's not "normal" behavior, but perhaps it sees you as the food source so when you come around starts going to the place where you feed and starts his hunt for the goodies you drop in.

 

[Neptune777]

Chill my man...Chill

This is normal for an Achilles. They are like Border Collies (neurotic, intelligent, and like lots of exercise) and they are very active fish who like lots of room. They are continuous grazers and you should try to keep the Nori stocked on the clip as much as possible. Don't sweat it...just give it what it likes to eat and plenty of it.

 

[Dudester]

Cool, thanks guys. I'll consider the matter closed unless anyone else has contradictory information. Afterall, how can I ignore the advice of a man who dresses as smartly as in that photo! By the way, is that heavy starch?

 

[pescadero]

I'd say the same thing about the Acanthurids -- they would always be happy to have more swimming room and more flow. My young 4-inch powder blue exhibits the same pacing behavior. That's characteristic of the open sea swimmers, especially in tanks that are smaller or have lower flow than the fish likes to swim around in.

Although a 200g tank may seem large by aquarium standards, it would not seem large to an Acanthurid. Although people commonly recommend 100g as the minimum size tank for such fish, you'd find that a fish like that would really behave differently if you saw one in a 500g tank.

BTW - Nice Border Collie analogy. I have Acanthurids and BCs too.

 

[Neptune777]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12455976#post12455976 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dudester
Cool, thanks guys. I'll consider the matter closed unless anyone else has contradictory information. Afterall, how can I ignore the advice of a man who dresses as smartly as in that photo! By the way, is that heavy starch?

:lolspin: :lolspin: Thanks! :thumbsup:

BTW....Big Lebowski is one of my favorite movies....... Hey man...like I have a beverage here!

 

[paulamrein]

I thought that was the kid from "Better off dead" a john cusak movie in the mid-late eighties?

 

[paulamrein]

OOOHH never mind- you were commenting on "dudester" Give me a map, I'll catch up!!

 

[Neptune777]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12456323#post12456323 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by paulamrein
I thought that was the kid from "Better off dead" a john cusak movie in the mid-late eighties?

Ha! Very good....not many people have figured that out. Ricky!!!

 

[Dudester]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. And I really like it when the lightbulb goes off and people put my username with TBL together, especially when they offer a great quote from the movie.

As for swimming space and flow, this fish should be happier in about 6 months when I move him to a new 450g tank.