Skittish Blonde Naso tang

[marty9876]

I've got a blonde Naso who is skittish as heck, this normal? Had for 9 months, came in as 3-4" juvi and now is 6+. Hides a lot, not really out in the open water much. No fighting really, little bit of wanting to occupy the same place at the same time with emp angel or purple tang but not much.

Thoughts? Freak job for life? Will he out grow this, just not normal Naso behavior from what I know. Fat bastard, in a 180 with high flow now.

 

[HumbleFish]

I must have your blonde Naso's twin brother. He would literally tremble inside his "PVC cave" while in QT. Now in my DT, he spends most of his time hiding inside a rock cave or under a ledge. He'll come out to eat and then dart right back to his hiding spot. I don't know what's going on - never had a wussy tang like this before.

 

[Rapide]

Your tank is too small.

 

[triggreef]

I dont think a 180 is too small. I have a 4"er that is now in a 90 QT w 4 other tangs and he is out and about picking at every surface. Yet the kole tang with him is hiding anytime i'm in the room. If I peek around the corner though kole tang is out.

I think you just got a dud.

 

[triggreef]

When you feed do you stay right in front of the tank or watch from a distance? Perhaps he has not associated you as the food giver for some reason. maybe if you feed and stay right in front of tank to force him out when your right there might help.

 

[JohnniG]

Yeah. They naturally become more active towards the glass when they see the feeder, normally.

 

[marty9876]

Your tank is too small.

Have plans and built a whole house around to upgrade to 8-10' tank, I'll send you my blueprints for the house with the load specs- that pass your qualifications to tell me something I don't know? Tank is not too small for a 6" Naso, for grow out through adulthood obviously. See house plans and specs... If you think this fish is being affects by this tank size at this point in his live cycle, say so. Tang police post form a guy with an (amazing) 11' tank doesn't add much value to this conversation.

When you feed do you stay right in front of the tank or watch from a distance? Perhaps he has not associated you as the food giver for some reason. maybe if you feed and stay right in front of tank to force him out when your right there might help.

I've developed a bad habit of creeping away. I have some overhand structure which he'll hang out in until I walk away.

Yeah. They naturally become more active towards the glass when they see the feeder, normally.

He'll get excited and get feisty in the rock work, and will come out in the water column to eat no problem just doesn't seen to spend the bulk of his time free swimming which I'm concerned/confused about. Basically it's a big fish getting bigger who is never out swimming away. Healthy as an ox, just a freak job.

 

[Rapide]

I respect the fact that you are not going to keep the Naso in that 180gallon tank for the reat of it's life. But the fact of the matter is, that surgeonfishes from the genus Naso get huge and are open water fishes. When diving you can see specimens as big as 20", and that is not an aquarium fish anymore... As an ichthyologist I have to say, that I would be happy if I never saw another large tang in an aquarium, but I know that I will never see that day

 

[triggreef]

Well, everyone has an opinion I guess. My naso will live a long, parasite free, well fed life, ruling his 6' tank. If he gets too big, maybe he'll move to someone else's bigger tank, maybe not. But either way he'll never experience getting ripped apart by a larger fish or something else. Most forget about 98% of fishy fry never see adulthood let alone reach max size. So if not collected, my 4" naso may have never seen 5". If he did theres a good chance 6" may have slipped away from him. Who knows? I guess theres always trade offs. Just my opinion.

But back to the subject, it sounds like you tip toe around him, so he tip toes around the tank.

 

[triggreef]

Or... Maybe when he gets too big, I can use him for an excuse to convince my wife that I need a 12' tank upgrade.

 

[marty9876]

I respect the fact that you are not going to keep the Naso in that 180gallon tank for the reat of it's life. But the fact of the matter is, that surgeonfishes from the genus Naso get huge and are open water fishes. When diving you can see specimens as big as 20", and that is not an aquarium fish anymore... As an ichthyologist I have to say, that I would be happy if I never saw another large tang in an aquarium, but I know that I will never see that day

Fair enough, makes sense. We all know that in this hobby many folks often do things they really sound not in the best interest of the animals. When folks get half way educated and try to do things we shouldn't do in a better way.... still doesn't mean we should be doing it anyways.

 

[HumbleFish]

The only ones who can take the moral high ground on this issue are those who leave all this stuff in the ocean where it belongs. And since that ain't me that's all I've got to say about this.