Fish Behavior, Ctenochaetus strigosus    10/8/08
I know there are many articles on fish behavior but known have answered my question. I have a year old 180 gallon reef tank. Water parameters are excellent. Ammonia, nitrite and Nitrate are at 0. The temperature fluctuates between 80 and 82 degrees. all of my fish look great. I have 2 ocellaris clownfish, 5 pajama Cardinalfish, 1 Sixline wrasse, and 2 Firefish. I just added a beautiful Kole tang and he looks beautiful except for his occasional scratching on rocks.
<Natural... do this to extents in the wild as well>
He eats like a pig and I see no signs of any distress. Is there something there and it has not reared its ugly head yet or is this somewhat typical of the Kole tang.
<The last>
No other fish are showing this scratching or other signs of distress. They all eat wonderfully. I have read your articles and took every precaution on quarantining fish and corals. So I am perplexed. Is this behavior like us scratching our back or something?
<Akin>
Nothing is wrong we just needed to do it or do they do this because they are seeing a reflection?
<Possibly a component>
Thanks for any advice.
Cullen
<I would not be concerned here. Bob Fenner>

Kole Tang Shaking   5/9/07
Hi Crew
I have a Kole tang that has been in the 90G with 2 ocellaris and various IPSF critters for about a year.
After suffering from ich when he first arrived, he recovered and ever since has been quite healthy and fat. He's about 4 inches long. About 3 weeks ago I noticed what looked like a white hole on his side.  It was much larger than a typical ich spot so rather than jump to conclusions I thought I'd wait and observe.
<You are wise here>
The hole cleared up after 2 days but since then I have noticed an occasional juddering/shaking.
<Many fishes "do" this from time to time... some more than others...>
It is very different to the flashing he did when he had ich. He swims up to the glass and either turns side ways or backs up into the corner before shaking and moving his pectoral fins quickly as if he's trying to swim backwards. He doesn't do this against the glass but about 1 inch away. He only does this when the light is on so I'm not sure if it has anything to do with reflection.
<Good point>
The only new item to the tank was a bottle of tiggerpods (I'm currently building up a refugium).
Otherwise he looks and acts fine and still eats like a pig - dried seaweed, frozen formula 2, frozen formula Spirulina and has even started stealing the ocellaris' enriched brine/Mysis shrimp.
Any Idea what the shaking is ?
<Mmm, well... likely "nothing" to be concerned about... I do think there is a positive correlation twixt water quality issues and the frequency, intensity of such behavior... So the usual emphasis on improvement here should be mentioned>
Thanks
-Peter
Hi, I forgot to add - PH=8.2, Nitrates undetectable, Temp=78. Lots of live rock with too much Algae. I add B-IONIC 2 part every other day for Alk/Calcium. I also have a Current 25v UV and ETSS Reef Devil Skimmer.
Thanks
-Peter
<All reads as good... Perhaps adding a purposeful cleaner organism (e.g. Lysmata amboinensis is found in the Ctenochaetus strigosus range) might help all feel more at ease... Bob Fenner>

Kole Tang agitated 4/26/07
WWM crew, I recently purchased a Kole Tang from my LFS (3 1/2 wks ago) because I did not have enough grazers in my tank and I had a hair algae bloom.  
<Not why I usually choose to add specimens...>
The Kole Tang and a Sea Hair quickly took care of the hair algae.  
The tang was doing very well cruising the tank calmly grazing for the first three weeks, but for the past couple of days it is darting around the tank as if something is agitating it.  
<Maybe something is agitating it? ;) >
The tang's color has become more vibrant and his barbs (don't know what they are called) are exposed.  It appears very agitated by something but I can't determine what.  My water parameters have all been within normal limits (except my Ca++ has been running low - adding liquid Ca daily to sump as directed).  I double-checked this yesterday at the LFS and they confirmed my results.  
<What is taking up the calcium? Do you need to be supplementing at all?>
I have a ground in the water (I realize there has been some debate as whether to let standing potential charge build up vs. having minimal current) but have alternated which power heads are on just in case.  It did not matter which power head was on, the Tang's recent behavior did not change.  The only thing that seemed to calm the tang down was turning off the lights, and he was still more active than usual with the lights off.  However, when they were turned on after 1 day off he continued with his behavior.  It is eating well, Mysis shrimp and ocean nutrition formula one marine pellets, it is grazing on the rocks and glass.  It does not graze on the macro algae, as I would expect.  
It also seems to become more agitated when someone approaches the tank.  It acts as if it sees another tang in the glass, but my LFS informed me this is not the case.  I would appreciate any ideas. Thanks.
<If the fish is otherwise healthy, vibrant and active, then I would just let the time pass. Make sure you carry the diet and look into its nutritional needs, especially.>
Ben
Tank info:
4 month old 90g reef aquarium with a 30g sump divided into 3 sections Euro Reef protein skimmer, refugium, and sump return.  Aquascape is made up of about 120lbs of rock with many swim throughs and open swimming areas (majority of rock is two large base rocks).  Other livestock includes a firefish, redheaded goby, small Randall's goby (recently added but barely seen in the rocks), cleaner shrimp, 3 peppermint shrimp, turbo snails and the sea hair.
<Let's wait this one out. Try limiting the action around the system, and the time the lights are on, too.
-GrahamT>

pt.2 Kole Tang agitated 4/26/07   5/2/07
Dear Graham T (or whom ever may receive this),
Thank you for your response.  
<Welcome.>
This is what my LFS said also, I was just trying to get some other opinions on the matter from people who may have had some experience with this behavior.  I am very grateful to have my LFS they have helped tremendously over the years and I trust them very much (They were the world's first MAC certified retailer).  However, they are at a loss with the behavior displayed by my Kole tang.  
<Tangs are twitchy, easily agitated animals. Most of the time, they cool out and mellow, but sometimes not.>
As for the diet I forgot to mention formula 2 also mixed with formula 1.  I had not added the dried macro algae until today because I was under the impression that unlike other tangs Kole's did not really like to feed on the macro.  I did, however, add some rubber banded around some rubble rock today (It has not noticed it yet).  There has been some new behavior today.  When the lights are ON it displays behavior best described as it turns vertical face facing the surface and quickly backpedals in a pulsing motion then all of a sudden either swipes at the glass with its side or goes at it head first.  Is this territory behavior, aggressive or defensive behavior?  
<I would theorize that it may be reacting to a reflection, like a betta in front of a mirror...?>
This behavior quickly ceases when the hood is opened or the lights turned off.  I have checked the ter with the hood closed and I do not get a shock when the hood is closed and the ground removed.  My LFS says that the lights may be aggravating it for some unknown reason.  
<Yes...>
I keep wondering if it sees its reflection in the glass and is trying to claim its turf?  
<Possible, but I'm not sure how this would happen with the standard aquarium setups I'm used to.>
I was told it shouldn't be able to see its own reflection,  <Right...> and I agree based on simple matter of light refraction and reflection, but I was wondering if you have dealt with anything like this?
<Like I said, some tangs are very twitchy and high-strung. If your lights aren't that impressive, and you feel that they shouldn't bother him, just wait it out and hope for a relaxation of the beast.>
Thanks again,
Ben
<-GrahamT>

To Phase or Not to Phase... That is the question... Kole beh.    3/21/07
Crew,
   <Adam>
  I have a 2 month old Yellow Eye "Kole Tang" that we quarantined for a month and now have had in display for approximately 1 month. The display is a 120 gallon, with 80 lbs live rock, bio balls in sump. Great water quality and no problems whatsoever.
  The question is, we went on vacation and came home. The main diet for the tang is some algae sheets as well as vitamin enriched brine shrimp and formula one flakes.
  The tang eats great and is really fat and good. This diet was continued when we were on vacation.. Belize.. Beautiful snorkeling and reef... The Blue hole is a must dive for any marine/reef lover.
<I do like Belize... have been there a few times... mainly to the south, Placencia... but out of Ambergris, including the Blue Hole (which none other than Jacques Cousteau and crew blasted the causeway to... And found it to be a bit of a bore... as all such geological structures... not much life at all...>
  The problem is when we came back we have noticed the juvenile tang that was mostly the light orange in color is phasing into the adult with darker features and more pronounced stripes... The problem is it looks like its caudal peduncle has gotten stuck while it is changing colors...
<Happens>
I am not sure if it loses some scales or what when it phases but it has its peduncles exposed and is rubbing them on the glass removing what looks to be other scales....
<Peduncles? The caudal peduncle is the area twixt the body and the tail... You mean the "tangs"?>
It looks like the peduncles are stuck half-way on his new layer of scales and cannot fold down.
   <Mmm, unusual... as these do fit into recesses in this genus, subfamily... Could be behavioral... the animal may be posturing, feel threatened>
  No signs of ich or any disease are being displayed.
Any ideas if this is something to worry about or routine for a phasing fish?   
  -Adam
<My guess is the latter, but I would watch (am sure you do) for interaction with tankmates here. Bob Fenner>

Ctenochaetus strigosus
Bob - Please comment on one Yellow-eyed/Kole Tang and two Percula Clownfish [with anemone] in a 25Lx19Dx21H tank. These would be the only three fish housed in this 37gal system with 50lbs / LR & LS substrate.
My concern is that the Kole will grow too large for my almost "cube" shaped set up. How fast will a juvenile [3-4"] specimen grow to an adult [5-6"] fish?
<Slowly>
Are any in the Tang group known to mature smaller in size than the others? 
<Yes, certainly... this is the "soonest"... with Prionurus, Acanthurus, Paracanthurus, Zebrasoma... all growing larger before maturity>
Thanks for your help - TS, Dallas
<You're welcome... Bob Fenner>