Sohal Tang Primer

the Vlamingii I deal with is extremely friendly. I have an Achilles that I can pet, too. I don't stick my arm in that Sohal's tank but the fish will swim up to you so quickly it can startle you if not paying close attention.
I deal with another Sohal as well. I wouldn't rate either Sohal as friendly as Vlamingii. Quite the opposite, in fact.
 
Mine was simply curious as well; just followed my hand around as if expecting food to just mysteriously drop from it. I must say I was careful not to make any sudden moves around him though. A nibble I can handle. His 'scalpel' was another matter.
 
mine doesn't like me taking the seaweed clip out:spin3:

2qm3k20.jpg
 
I may have got a wimp. Mine does not seem overly aggressive, does not bite me or the other fish. He has not had tail fights with any other fish. So far I am happy he is docile. He is about 6in, Is he going to become a terror as he grows larger?
 
jjstecchino said:
I may have got a wimp. Mine does not seem overly aggressive, does not bite me or the other fish. He has not had tail fights with any other fish. So far I am happy he is docile. He is about 6in, Is he going to become a terror as he grows larger?
Click to expand...

Some people's experience seems to be the Sohal, especially if its with other much more dominant/larger tangs, being pretty passive up til about 8-10" and then it can rapidly become a terror. On the other hand, it might be fine.

I've also heard of people doing the opposite, as in making sure the Sohal is king of the tank by putting it with much smaller fish so that it won't feel that its dominance is threatened. Not sure if one method is better or worse than the other.
 
Creetin said:
If you like sohals check this video out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG_yoCH_gJw&feature=related
Click to expand...

I like this one better. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc14obsuHaM&feature=related


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29reef said:
Gary and 64Ivy,

Did yours ever nibble at your fingers/arms while you were cleaning the aquarium? Ive serviced tanks where the the tang would be very bold and "friendly"; did you both experience the same? I have heard the same for some of the other tangs like Bariene and Vlamingi; just wondering if this is the case with your fish.
Click to expand...

My Sohal enjoys trying to eat me often. Many times when I go into the tank she will surprise me with a bite to a finger. Startling to say the least. She also is extremely fond of her algae clip. That being said, she is one of only two fish in her tank since she does not play well with others /understatement
 
Well... the sohal has been in my tank for just about six months so I thought I post an update. He still is a model citizen, plays along with the other tangs very well and I still have to see him fighting once. He still does the sand slapping thinghy from time to time. I do not see any abnormality on his skin, so I do not think is trying to scratch. It must be a behavioral thing. He has grown almost an inch, I am afraid he is getting closer to 8" and as mentioned earlier these fish can become a problem as they get larger. I am keeping finger crossed. It is a beautiful fish and I hope I can enjoy him for a long time

Claudio
 
mine is slapping sand also!

mine is slapping sand also!

Claudio...my sohal tang, who is extremely healthy as far as eating and swimming, is slapping the sand with it's side also.... It does not rub against rock and has ZERO sign of illness... Does not go near shrimp or cleaner wrasse for a cleaning....no interest so I do not think it is external parasite.....

I am wondering if it is habit also???? Other then it slapping the sand on it's side occassionally the fish looks and acts perfectly healthy... it is very very strong eater and swimmer....no problem.

Any ideas anyone? Why does this fish swim on it's side against the gravel occassionally? NOrmal? I have owned 3 of them in the past and the last 3 never did this.....?????

If you find out Claudio please let me know.
Thanks kindly
Tim
 
Sohal Tang Tim said:
Claudio...my sohal tang, who is extremely healthy as far as eating and swimming, is slapping the sand with it's side also.... It does not rub against rock and has ZERO sign of illness... Does not go near shrimp or cleaner wrasse for a cleaning....no interest so I do not think it is external parasite.....

I am wondering if it is habit also???? Other then it slapping the sand on it's side occassionally the fish looks and acts perfectly healthy... it is very very strong eater and swimmer....no problem.

Any ideas anyone? Why does this fish swim on it's side against the gravel occassionally? NOrmal? I have owned 3 of them in the past and the last 3 never did this.....?????

If you find out Claudio please let me know.
Thanks kindly
Tim
Click to expand...

Tim, I believe it is normal. The fish is perfectly healthy, just from time to time, while swimming he turns on the side, dives down to the sand and slaps the sand. I also do not see any iaggressiveness before or after he does the slapping so i do not think is a dominant behavior display as well.
If anybody has any info I would love to hear

Claudio
 
weird

weird

I hope you are right Claudio.....
I can tell you that a friend of mine dosed my reef with Prodibio stuff
and told me...that the sohal will *stop* doing that with this new biological
bacteria added to the tank.....

honestly...the fish has reduced signficantly the number of times
that he slaps the sand since the use of this product....

Whyyyyyyy would adding a new bacteria to the tank slow the sohal
down from slapping??? Very weird...but....no kidding....it has worked
as far as reducing the sohal from slapping.... he still slaps but...much
more rarely....

Tim
 
Maybe its a nerve thing. Speculating here, But i have seen fish rub on the glass when the tank is getting too small for them.
No change in mine he still is in good behavior. No spouts with my full grown scribbled angel.
Now he does spout off with the purple tang though because the purple pester's every fish that gets near his sleeping spot. The purple has a couple spots on him where he has been caught, ;) I am afraid the purple will get caught with a good one one day if he does not stop.
 
I think the occaisional rubbing is normal too--mine does it and it's FINE.

We scratch our head and ourselves:lmao: Does that mean we have lice or crabs? Most of the time--NO:bigeyes:

The other thing to remember about swinning along side the glas is that they are seeing the reflection of your reef behind them too--you can see them get duped by food that is in a corner until they realize the funhous mirror effect and strike at the actual piece of food!
 
My Sohal does the occasional slapping on his left side from time to time; he's been doing this since I've had him (almost a year now). He sometimes goes months without doing it....
 
Stanley-Reefer said:
I think the occaisional rubbing is normal too--mine does it and it's FINE.

We scratch our head and ourselves:lmao: Does that mean we have lice or crabs? Most of the time--NO:bigeyes:

The other thing to remember about swinning along side the glas is that they are seeing the reflection of your reef behind them too--you can see them get duped by food that is in a corner until they realize the funhous mirror effect and strike at the actual piece of food!
Click to expand...

I dunno if i would compare it to use scratching so much, I would lean more to compare it to a stress condition like a twitch. I have seen many sohals in tanks and never seen one flap on the sand in a normal fashon regularly. A flag would go up if i seen mine do that regularly. IMO
 
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