Strange Yellow Tang Behaviour

[esmithiii]

My yellow tang did something last night that it has never done before. I was moving some of my newly purchased snails from the sand bed to the live rock and my tang came up, spread its fins out and backed up to my hand. At first I thought that it was looking for a fight, but then it slowly rubbed up against my hand, almost like a caress.

The fish is fat and healthy, and he doesn't seem to be scratching on the rock or anything.

I have had him over 2 years, but he spent a couple of months at another aquarist's house while my tank cycled after moving to Indy from Tennessee.

Anyone experience similar behaviour? Any ideas as to why suddenly the fish is doing this? Is the fish getting "jiggy wit it" on my hand?

Ernie

[zhenya]

Ernie,

Tangs are very territorial fish and I think it was just trying to do a little surgery on your hand there better be careful next time you reach in your tank.

[esmithiii]

Ernie,

Tangs are very territorial fish and I think it was just trying to do a little surgery on your hand there better be careful next time you reach in your tank.

Thanks for the response. I have seen the tang do what you describe towards other fish in the past, and this is quite different. Tonight he let me put my entire hand around Him. I could have scooped him out of the tank. He does not bat is tail at me at all like he has done towards other fish when being aggressive. I will try to take a video clip so you can see what I mean.

Ernie

[Project Reef]

I will try to take a video clip so you can see what I mean.

Ernie

::Grabs popcorn::

Can't wait!

[timbo2]

Tangs can be very personable fish to the owner.. This is a good sign that it trusts the hand that feeds it....

I had a Atlantic Blue Tang that would hover around when I was putting the NORI in, but it was more like a "Man, get out of the way of my food!" kind of hover... It was cool.. RIP...

[MontanaRocknReefer]

[QUOTE=timbo2]Tangs can be very personable fish to the owner.. This is a good sign that it trusts the hand that feeds it....

If it's a female be wary as it may back fire on ya and spike ya good! Now as I quickly head to the door as I may get some slack on this remark!! :eek3: