Flashy Angel and shy Niger Trigger

[mk1151]

Hi all,
I've got a Queen Angel that does something a little weird every now and then - the Angel will get sideways really close to the sand, like it's looking at something, then swim off. Initially I thought it was flashing, but I think the poof of sand is just from its fin pushing off to head back up into the water column and the shock wave of the displaced water hitting the sand.

The Angel is happy, healthy, inquisitive, isn't picking on the other fish, and is eating well. Is it just checking out the substrate looking at something?


In addition, I have a Niger Trigger. I acclimated it about 3 days ago for about 2.5 hours. The water temp and quality between the bag and DT matched perfectly. When I added it to the tank I made sure the lights were off and stayed off until the next morning - it seems ok but is exceptionally shy. It's like I'm playing hide-and-seek. If I walk over every now and then I'll see its head sticking out, and if I stare too long it runs and hides. I can only see its shadow on the substrate in the cave work of the live rock.

Is this normal behavior for a Niger Trigger? I haven't found any info one way or another.

I have a 220 gallon tank with 200 pounds of sand and around 220 pounds of live rock. All water levels are 0, tank is about 6 weeks old and fully cycled.

Aside from snails and a sandsifter star, I have a queen angel, a flagfin angel, and a yellowtail coris wrasse.

[Original Fin]

IDK if it's normal Angel behavior or not, but my Bi-Corlor Angel sometimes does the same thing...especially if the Coral Banded Shrimp is near. It seems he's trying to get a cleaning sevice.
I always just took it for playfulness. Mine has been doing this since day one, going on 9 months and it's always been active and healthy. It is still shy though. Anyone comes within 6 ft of the tank, and he goes into hiding.

[mk1151]

IDK if it's normal Angel behavior or not, but my Bi-Corlor Angel sometimes does the same thing...especially if the Coral Banded Shrimp is near. It seems he's trying to get a cleaning sevice.
I always just took it for playfulness. Mine has been doing this since day one, going on 9 months and it's always been active and healthy. It is still shy though. Anyone comes within 6 ft of the tank, and he goes into hiding.

Thank you! I was worried because I've read that true flashing could be a sign of Ich but I don't see any indicators of it.

I'll let him do his thing. Maybe I'll take a chance at a shrimp or two in the tank. I know the wrasse might pick on it but we'll see.

[leebca]

Many Angels look for sand marine lifeforms (benthic creatures) to eat. They do so by carefully studying an area, then disturbing the substrate to see if anything 'turns up.'

All new acquisitions should be quarantined to avoid the introduction of parasites or unwanted diseases to the main DT. But also for other reasons which are listed in the post here: A Fish Quarantine Process

In the Niger's case, the points of having an opportunity to adjust to captive life and recognize its owner is accomplished during the quarantine time.

The adult large Queen Angel will grow fairly fast if fed properly and properly nourished and at about 8" will need a 500 gallon aquarium for further room to grow.