Tang Splashing

naesco · #1 03-09-2006, 03:58 AM

It is probably one of the following in the order listed.

1. Your powder blue tang has a parasite that it is trying to get rid of.
2. Your powder blue tang is not getting enough oxygen (they are very active fish) due to a low oxygen level in your tank or it has developed some gill disease which is causing the tang problems.
3. Your tang is exercising by swimming against the current. Tangs are swimmers. That is why they need large tanks. Ony if the tang is healthy in all respects (clear eyes, active no blemishes, spots or redness on its body and its gills are healthy but your tank is small, consider giving it to someone with a large tank as you have suggested.

The reason why I think is is 1 or 2 is that powder blue tangs in particular are very difficult fish to keep. They often do well for a while and than decline for no apparent reason.

If you have not already done so, position a powerhead about 6-8 inches below the surface of the water. That provides more oxygen and gives the tang swimming exercise.
If this was a naso tang though, IME, it would be normal behaviour.

StirCrazy · #2 03-09-2006, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

3. Your tang is exercising by swimming against the current. Tangs are swimmers. That is why they need large tanks. Ony if the tang is healthy in all respects (clear eyes, active no blemishes, spots or redness on its body and its gills are healthy but your tank is small, consider giving it to someone with a large tank as you have suggested.

Welcom back Naesco, his tank is a 180 and he never sugested giving it to some one with a larger tank but rather getting rid of it and getting one that doesn't splash. so I think the tosmall of tank thing is a N/A issue here.

I think I would tend to agree with you on the parrasite one, and maybe on the O2 as I can't remember if the tank is skimmed or not.

Steve

prosnow · #3 03-09-2006, 05:07 AM

My buddys Large powder blue does that, mostly when hes eating tho...fighting all the other tangs for the nori i guess..

Johnny Reefer · #4 03-09-2006, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

Welcom back Naesco, his tank is a 180 and he never sugested giving it to some one with a larger tank but rather getting rid of it and getting one that doesn't splash. so I think the tosmall of tank thing is a N/A issue here.

I think I would tend to agree with you on the parrasite one, and maybe on the O2 as I can't remember if the tank is skimmed or not.

Steve

Yes, that's correct Steve. Tank is a 180. 228 lbs of LR, so lots of room. It is skimmed with a Prizm Pro (which I'm totally unhappy with and intend to upgrade). Only other fish in the tank are 1 Yellow Tang, 4 Green Chromis, 2 False Percs and 2 Mandarins, so its not overcrowding. The surface is well agitated with two corner overflows and one of the powerheads is directed toward the surface, so I'm quite confident it isn't an O2 deficiency. Three other Maxijets and 2 Seio 1500's on the go as well, so there is lots of current for it to swim against.
That leaves the parasite theory. Seems like a pretty damn healthy Tang, all 'round. Active as heck. Grazes frequently. No blemishes. Clear eyes. (When I first got it about 10 months ago one of it's eyes was a tad cloudy and that has actually cleared). No external signs of any duress. In the 10 months I have had it I have seen it with Marine Ich only twice and both times it was minor, exhibiting only a few spots. One of those times was after the switch from the 135 to the 180.
If it is a parasite it's internal.
I'm inclined to think that it's just something that this Tang likes to do. It's not constant, but often enough to be a concern.

Cheers

,

EmilyB · #5 03-09-2006, 07:17 AM

My tangs are rarely around the surface unless I am feeding (naso and powder blue included). Are you skimming, heck yah...I hope so with those pigs ! Also tangs need a lot of food/feedings. Is he just surfing the surface for food? Do you feed nori twice daily?

StirCrazy · #6 03-09-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmilyB

Also tangs need a lot of food/feedings. Is he just surfing the surface for food? Do you feed nori twice daily?

you feed your tangs??

Steve

Johnny Reefer · #7 03-09-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmilyB

..... Do you feed nori twice daily?

No. I don't feed Nori at all. I'll try it.
Twice a day? Seems like alot. Shouldn't it be given the chance to eat other things too?

Thanx much and cheers

,

OCDP · #8 03-09-2006, 02:48 PM

I am no expert I am just going by what I have read...

But Tangs need nori and greens to keep healthy and thrive.. they need all sorts of greens if I remember correctly.. so yes, you should be feeding Nori...

I am definitely no Tang expert though.

Johnny Reefer · #9 03-09-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCDP

....But Tangs need nori and greens to keep healthy and thrive.....

Up to now I figured the algae it eats from grazing was enough. I'll try the Nori, but if my algae starts growing thick because the Tang is full enough from the Nori then I will discontinue it.

Thanx much and cheers

,

Skimmerking · #10 03-09-2006, 10:44 PM

ya my lavender tang does the same thing along with my koran its funny when imake a trip downstairs to feed them they scoot across the tank to meet me and then once i get the nori by the water they are splashing funny as hell ...