tang wants grooming?

[hi-line]

I have a question concerning my yellow tang. I have a 75 gal FOWLR setup, and have had my first fish in the system for about one week. I have a yellow tang, four blue-green reef chromis, and two tank-bred percula clowns. All are doing great, and eating well. I have been observing them closely, with attention to the tang. Tonight I noticed him presenting himself to the chromis. He would approach and turn sideways and cant his body to give a full side to the chromis, extending all fins. I believe he was looking for a good grooming, but I see no evidence of parasites, ich, or velvet on him. He is not aggressive, and when they do not acknowledge him he swims awhile, then presents to another chromis. Is the tang developing parasites, or is this expected behavior?

 

[fish_is_my_name]

sounds like parasite than behavior

 

[Randall_James]

My purple tang does this and I think it may be a "Im the boss" thing sort of like a rooster puffing up his feathers..

 

[yoboyjdizz]

Not sure what it might be but might look into getting a pair of cleaner shrimp they be glad to do the grooming for your tang.

 

[masson]

My tang does that when my clowns get too close to his cave. He turns side ways and tries to hit them with that little white thing on the end of his fin, and then swims away.

 

[Stevenx2]

Well, that littel white thing is damn sharp. He beat the crap out of my Copperband (RIP) with that!

 

[spoiledcats]

I agree with yoboyjdizz about the cleaner shrimp. If your tang wants grooming, the shrimp will take care of that. However, this could be some aggressive behavior, when they turn sideways they can spear fish with the little white 'spear' on the back by the tail. They try this sometimes giving them the name 'surgeonfish'. Tangs have pretty tough skin so they can take more of this, but other fish don't stand a chance. Could be it's just a display for the chromis to show who's boss of the tank.

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7337144#post7337144 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randall_James
My purple tang does this and I think it may be a "Im the boss" thing sort of like a rooster puffing up his feathers..

that pretty much sums it up . its very common for a tang to do this. as well as many other species of fish. if one of the chromis were to charge him, the tang probably would have killed it. or atleast beat it up really bad.

 

[JENnKerry]

My powder blue has done it to my foxface and damsels. Too funny.