Tangs and Rabbitfish & the things they do

fishoholic · #1 01-02-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta-newb

In my opinion, if there is no real damage being done and the fish aren't getting stressed I wouldn't worry about it myself, just keep an eye on it that it doesn't escalate into a more serious problem.

+1

As long as there is no damage being done and they aren't constantly chasing and attacking eachother I wouldn't worry about. If the rabbitfish is stressed out by the tang she will turn multi-colours and will hide a lot, if your RF isn't behaving that way you should be fine.

I've kept tangs and rabbitfish together and they never fought with eachother. I've never noticed them do what you're describing however, IMO, it almost sounds like the tang is trying to clean the rabbitfish.

fishytime · #2 01-03-2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishoholic

it almost sounds like the tang is trying to clean the rabbitfish.

Right on the one spot it shouldnt be messing with. A customer at the shop recently showed me photos of his atlantic blue tang that lost a fight with a rabbit fish. Several punctures. Not a pretty sight.

fishoholic · #3 01-03-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

Right on the one spot it shouldnt be messing with. A customer at the shop recently showed me photos of his atlantic blue tang that lost a fight with a rabbit fish. Several punctures. Not a pretty sight.

Well yes of course, but it's really bizarre that the naso is "chewing on it" while seemingly not doing any damage to it. At least it sounds like there isn't any damage being done, so I'm not sure how else to explain why a tang would chew on a rabbitfish's spikes.

my2rotties · #4 01-03-2009, 02:29 AM

Before Ed my foxface died, I noticed a couple of wounds on his side, and my purple tang had his eye punctured. This was when my 55g crashed and I thought it was injuries due to struggling in spiking ammonia. Ed died a few days later when he jumped out of the tank. The tang healed up but I always suspected some sort of fight happened. I never really saw to know what transpired but I do suspect they had a pretty nasty fight. Perhaps Ed got sick of the tang and it ended badly.

Now that my naso tang is eating and regaining her health I am noticing that she is trying assert herself with the fish her size. The rabbitfish she hung so close with, is now being chewed on. Of course the rabbitfish is mellow and does nothing but keep her spikes up. Since the rabbitfish does nothing, perhaps it will never go any father. Then again when she has enough of the Naso, who's to say this won't break out in a serious fight?

GreenSpottedPuffer · #5 01-03-2009, 02:35 AM

I have had quite a few tangs with my rabbitfish and never ever seen them fight. Right now I have three tangs with my rabbitfish and never see anything like this. They all just get along fine.

I agree that if there is no damage its probably fine. I would be more concerned about the tang though being near the spikes.

untamed · #6 01-03-2009, 05:13 AM

I've not seen anything like this either. My rabbitfish is a Foxface, and I have multiple Nasos and Acanthurus tangs. I wouldn't say that everyone gets along, but they don't bother the Foxface at all.

my2rotties · #7 01-03-2009, 05:16 AM

Strange indeed. I have had it happen to different kinds of rabbitfish with two different kinds of tangs. I thought it might be common.

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

I've not seen anything like this either. My rabbitfish is a Foxface, and I have multiple Nasos and Acanthurus tangs. I wouldn't say that everyone gets along, but they don't bother the Foxface at all.

PoonTang · #8 01-05-2009, 04:08 AM

I just added a Foxface to my tank and the only one to take any notice was the Yellow Tang. She has tried to slice the FF a few times and was met with a bunch of spines. So far no damage to either one of them as they are not very aggressively going after each other, more like a half hearted posturing display. Leaving the tank dark all afternoon, hope it all works out.