Yellow tang erratic and crazy?

[newfisher]

I have a small yellow tang that I have been watching all night and its freaking out! Its white bones on his tail are fully extended, he is backing into the glass( clean, no paint or algea) no reflection and is beating his tail against it like its another fish. His fins are fully flared and he is doing what I call the "vertical pre death swim" between backing into the glass and swimming tight circles. I have "essential elements" and some other chemicals,but don't feel comfortable using them. I have an empty qt tank that I could set up tonight and fill with 10g of tank water. - have checked perams and they are all good. I could do a water change and leave him in his current setting with the lights off or just chalk one up to the "fish do strange things at times" and check him in the morning. What would you do?

[Alterego]

I wouldn't stress him out any further. Just leave him alone for the evening. See what he is doing tomorrow.

[newfisher]

That's what I wanted to hear/do, thank you. I think we get caught up trying to play fish god at times and we loose sight of the simple things. Just needed a second vote.

[reefnjunkie]

Sounds like typical yellow tang behavior-(nutty)

 

I had one that drove me so crazy it was so spastic stressing out the whole tank with its erratic behavior-I snapped one night and threw it over the balcony onto the golf course-the girlfriend, (now my wife) gave me a good smack upside the head-"how'd that feel" she said-(laugh)

Still remember that today-

 

I went and got the tang, put it back in the tank and traded it 2 days later. 2nd floor apt, 30 foot drop plus the 15-20 foot toss, plus being out of water a few minutes-tangs are pretty resilient-IME

 

I had named ours "poon" maybe that was the problem.(scratch)

 

Good luck with yours

[andy]

I'd keep the lights out for a day or so, and double-check my salinity. If the behavior is still there, therapy may be in order... call in The Fish Whisperer.

[Algae]

How long have you had the Tang. I know that Tangs ship really bad. I would not consider taking a Tang until it has been in a dealers tank for a couple of weeks and I could see it eating.

The yellow Tangs at Petco are just a travesty.

[newfisher]

Its a year old. Came from Katt's breakdown. Must be the name, ours is "poon" too. Lol

[ReeFit]

Mine does act a little spooky usually but its pretty good most the time, been in the tank about a month. it doesn't like my yellow shirt.

[newfisher]

Update: today after actinics kicked on the Tang has the same behavior. I snuck out several times last night and watched it sleeping. Its not calmly swimming about the tank as normal,just thrashing itself in the back of the tank against the glass. All other fish are normal except the look on their faces " what's wrong with that guy".

[Lowman]

Keep the lights off for a day like Andy suggested. What is your ph? When you watched it last night "sleeping" was it looking normal then?

[newfisher]

Yes, normal sleeping

[Lowman]

I think he will settle down. He is just doing his best to intimidate the fishes. "That's right, we bad.............."

[Beckie]

I agree with Bob. I have had mine for a long time. Every once in a while he still acts "I'm Bad". The other fish don't even notice any more

 

 

Beckie

[newfisher]

Update: still crazy,no jumpers due to his behavior. Thanks for all the reassurance!