Sand sifting blue regal?

fishytime · #1 02-16-2009, 03:05 PM

Im beginning to think that my blue regal is a complete moron. I observed him sifting the sand yesterday. Has anyone else seen this behavior from a regal before?

christyf5 · #2 02-16-2009, 03:23 PM

IMO Regal tangs are exactly like they are portrayed in Finding Nemo. Totally stunned. Mine has no sand to sift but I bet he would if there were some. After feeding mine likes to go to the water surface and suck in some air. Then he heads straight for the bottom of the tank like he was on fire, farting the bubbles out his gills. Two seconds later he is back at the water surface. Its pretty hilarious to watch, however he also likes to flick his tail as he goes down which splashes water all over my halides and reflectors.

He also likes to hang out in one of my stag acros and play dead. It always freaks out my husband. Sometimes he is upside down, on his side etc. It gets him every time

naesco · #3 02-16-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

Im beginning to think that my blue regal is a complete moron. I observed him sifting the sand yesterday. Has anyone else seen this behavior from a regal before?

What are you feeding him and how ofter?

Scavenger · #4 02-16-2009, 04:16 PM

It might be something is irritating it's gills and it's using sand to scratch the itch. dunno??

fishytime · #5 02-16-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scavenger

It might be something is irritating it's gills and it's using sand to scratch the itch. dunno??

It was more like he was just taking in his mouth and then spitting it out right away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

What are you feeding him and how ofter?

I feed twice a day. Either green, brown or purple seaweed in the morning and either a combination of mysis and brine( mysis is a bit of a mouthful to some of my fish) shrimp (soaked in selcon) or Michika's blend in the evening. There are also random and sporadic feeding of live pods, arctic pods, cyclopeze and banana.

naesco · #6 02-17-2009, 03:39 AM

I thought it might be looking for food but it is getting an all round feeding. If you tang is healthy, active, full colour, clear eyes and plump, I wouldn't worry about it.

fishytime · #7 02-17-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

I thought it might be looking for food but it is getting an all round feeding. If you tang is healthy, active, full colour, clear eyes and plump, I wouldn't worry about it.

I wasnt really worried(except that the tang doesnt have all his marbles)....it was just a behavioral observation. Plump is a good description.... not obese, but full bodied.