[newatthis]

My yellow tang has just started fighting with his reflection at the front of my tank. Aybody else encountered this? I have had him for about 2 months and he has just started this. My purple tang and naso tang are normal. Water is testing the same.

[leebca]

When it comes to tangs in general, they are not the 'sharpest knives in the drawer.'

Are you sure it is fighting with its reflection, or is it trying to get to you when it sees you? Have you stood someplace where the fish can't see you and then observe its behavior?

If it perceives there is another tang in competition with its 'area' then it might be short on space, short on nutrition, or perceives itself as not being able to afford to share with another fish. Are you following the proper feeding guidelines?
Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition

Getting the proper nutrition on a regular basis goes a long way to settle them down.

If you're still sure the fish is fighting with its reflection, I would suggest letting the front of your aquarium get so dirty that his reflection is unclear. That might help it.

But if your tank/aquarium is not suitable or the fish not getting the right nutrition, or, in short the fish is stressed, this behavior may continue. There is a small chance the fish is actually

Brain damage does occur.

[Laura]

Thats pretty odd that your tang is acting like that. I had a regal tang that did the same thing. I relized that my tank was a little too small and he was very stressed. maybe that is the answer to your little fella?

[newatthis]

dont think its stress. no fighting amongst the fish and ive been feeding it right.

[Poseidon]

Originally Posted by newatthis

My yellow tang has just started fighting with his reflection at the front of my tank. Aybody else encountered this? I have had him for about 2 months and he has just started this. My purple tang and naso tang are normal. Water is testing the same.

3 Tangs, in a 125? Is your tank a 6ft or 4ft version. I normally don't consider myself a member of the "Tang Police" but it is STRESSFUL on the fish to have that many territorial fish in one glass box. Maybe your yellow is trying to make more room for himself!

[leebca]

GOOD observation! That totally got by me. :slap:

[newatthis]

they are all 3 or so inches and they all get along. Im getting a 280 gallon soon so I am moving my naso tang to it and keeping the purple and yellow in the 125. Yes it is 6 ft long and I dont see a fish fighting with himself to make room. Interesting observation though.

[Poseidon]

I wasn't saying he was fighting with himself, rather that he may be trying to escape. If the fish are all small that certainly helps, but they are all still rather terretorial. (sp? )

Anyway, do you have a place to house one of the other tangs for a ady or two just to see if the yellow stops pacing the glass?

[newatthis]

all i have is a 10 gallon tank that has not cycled. I think the size would stress him out. The reason I say he is fighting with himself is the only time he does it is a six inch square area. If he is not in that area he does not do it. Its not like pacing. Im letting the algae build up there to see if it helps. Thanks for the advice.

[BubbaWPB]

My purple tang used to fight with his reflection on the back of the tank until it got all covered with coralline algae and stuff.

P.S. They nailed the characters in Finding Nemo pretty good... Dory wasn't faking the lack of memory....

[Ixthys]

I've had tangs fight with their reflection. Just saw a male Lyretail anthias do it the other day, too. I've tried to explain to them that it is just their reflection, but they won't listen....sheesh! Eventually they've just given up.