Yellow tang aggression to reflection???

[hefner413]

I've had my yellow tang for 3 months now. I put in new lights about 4 wks ago. When my lights went on this evening, it began swimming back and forth on one side of the tank - seeming to hit the front of the tank with it's mouth, but swimming very fast / back and forth. I've read about tangs showing aggression to their own reflection. Does this sound like this is what happening?
If so, should I do something about it??
Thanks

 

[curryfishman]

Yes, This is proubly what happened i have an yellow tang that did the exact same thing. Personally i dont think you need to worry about it unless he attacks other fish.

 

[saltfish123]

yea after being in my tank for 6 months my sailfin tang still gives his reflecion a 2nd look

 

[hefner413]

cool. I was just surprised that it started doing this all of a sudden after 3 months. It must have just now noticed it's reflection!

 

[shawnlx86]

Originally Posted by Hefner413
cool. I was just surprised that it started doing this all of a sudden after 3 months. It must have just now noticed it's reflection!
My green bird wrasse started doing the same thing after 3months.

 

[hefner413]

How long did they keep this up?

 

[sepulatian]

Shawn and heff, what sized tanks are these? That is a classic sign of a fish trying to swim but running into walls everywhere he goes.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by saltfish123
yea after being in my tank for 6 months my sailfin tang still gives his reflecion a 2nd look

OK, To everyone who THINKS their fish is looking at their reflection; They are trying to swim further than your tank will let them. I am noticing these are all fish that get large or need a large space. Please research your fish. I am not trying to be a downer but there are certain fish that need large tanks. That sailfin will reach over 15" tall! He needs at LEAST a 210.

 

[shawnlx86]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
Shawn and heff, what sized tanks are these? That is a classic sign of a fish trying to swim but running into walls everywhere he goes.

My green bird wrasse is only 4"-6" long and is one of two fish in a 215gal. He has plenty of room. He only does this on the left side panel, never any others.

 

[shawnlx86]

Originally Posted by Hefner413
How long did they keep this up?
he only does it every so often, its not an all day thing, its also near my tunze stream, I dont know if that has anything to do with it

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
Shawn and heff, what sized tanks are these? That is a classic sign of a fish trying to swim but running into walls everywhere he goes.
i thikn they mean like just scraping the side wall to get at is reflection, i dont think they mean head on to the wall hoping from another foot of lenght..

 

[shawnlx86]

Originally Posted by bill109
i thikn they mean like just scraping the side wall to get at is reflection, i dont think they mean head on to the wall hoping from another foot of lenght..
correct, he's usually already stopped at the pane of glass, then starts the head butting.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by SHAWNLX86
correct, he's usually already stopped at the pane of glass, then starts the head butting.
o nvm then i thought u ment paralell with the side glass

 

[saltfish123]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
OK, To everyone who THINKS their fish is looking at their reflection; They are trying to swim further than your tank will let them. I am noticing these are all fish that get large or need a large space. Please research your fish. I am not trying to be a downer but there are certain fish that need large tanks. That sailfin will reach over 15" tall! He needs at LEAST a 210.

now as a 3in fish he needs more than 6ft to swim and i can accomadate his needs

 

[hefner413]

Mine tang is always parallel to the side - and it actually slaps the side of the tank with it's tail - just like it started slapping the heniochus when it was introduced (I removed it and returned it the same day).