Tangs that gulp air.

[Creetin]

I have a orange shoulder tang that gulps alot of air. I mean he go's about a minute and then gulps more air. Its very frequent when he eats, and he eats like a pig. He is in perfect health and o2 levels in tank are in check.
No other fish do this.
I have seen other tangs do this and they were similar species to the orange shoulder. eating substrate and then gulping air. LOL I imagine its for some kind of swim bladder reasons, Not damage.
He has done this for as long as i have had him. I have seen fish do this briefly before, but it was just after acclimating after shipping and i believe they do it then to equalize pressure.

 

[Creetin]

I should add he does not do this at lights out.

 

[Bonta]

Back when I was newb at the hobby, my Orange Shoulder did it whenever it was feeding time. As if the bubbles he was making were food. Now hes in a 240 gallon tank thats my friends and he still gulps air.

 

[tylorarm]

I had a fowleri that did this after eating for a couple years. Seemed to be fine. None of my other fish have done this. I quit worrying about it after a while. I too think it had something to do with air bladder, but it didn't seem to affect his swimming noticeably.

 

[ShrimpChipGal]

I have an A. Nigricauda that does the same exact thing. It looks like he is making bubbles and eating them. No other issues really and eats everything I put in + grazes all day long.

 

[Big E]

A lot of tangs do this........it's not uncommon. My purple tang has been doing it for years.
It apparently helps satisfy their need to graze all day or gives them a full feeling.

Try feeding smaller amounts & feed more often. That may help stop them from doing it as often.