Animal Stories - People Talking About Surgeonfish



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Latest Animal Stories on Surgeonfish (211)

melissa - 2009-04-16
I have a juvenille blue morph tang and a juvenille lipstick tang. I just got the lipstick tang two weeks ago. At first everything was doing well, but today I noticed that the blue morph tang was attacking the eyes of my lipstick tang, and the blue morph is a lot smaller. I don't know what to do. I also have two nemos, a manderine, hermits, two star fish, and two sea urchins in a 75 gallon tank. All of the fish are small so I didn't think that I have too many already. Please someone help me find out what is wrong>

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brian - 2011-11-12
As many have pointed out or if you do some research you will quickly find out that your tank is way too small for this fish. I have a naso tang in a 300 gallon tank with other tangs and he is doing fine only because he has his own hiding space in a large 35 lb rock in one area of the tank. I would not buy this fish unless you have a tank of 150 gallons or more. Naso tangs are territorial and need a lot of swimming space, otherwise they starve themselves out of the equation.

daniel - 2011-12-28
I have a large pair of Tomato clownfish and a small lemon peel mimic tang. Today the female clown had the Tang in her mouth. I had to thump her to get her to let go. Why do you guys think the clown would attack the tang like that?

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Charlie Roche - 2011-12-29
Tomato or Red Clownfish, Amphiprion frenatus, can be an agressive fish and have a tendency to become more agressive as they mature. If a fish will fit in another fishes mouth, chances are it will.
DreamReefer - 2012-07-11
I used to have 2 clowns that would nip tank-mate's tails off and then drag them into their anemone, usually at night. It took us nearly a year to figure out where our fish were disappearing to. Anyhow, damsels can be aggressive, especially toward a small, defensless Mimic-Tang. I suggest keeping everyone well fed. Eventually, your Mimic Tang will grow it's little tail spurs and the clown will quit.

Robert Ruiter - 2011-03-27
Just got a Naso Tang for our 220 gallon tank and he looked pretty stressed on the way home, he is now hiding in our rock almost on his side. Any ideas on how to get him out and about?

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Clarice Brough - 2011-03-29
Yeah he's sounding stressed. As long as no one is bothering him, you would probably be best to give him a day or so to come out on his own. Trying to force him out will only stress him more.
mm - 2012-05-27
Had a question on the Naso we got one yesterday and got up this morning and he swam for a little but then as the day went on he just seemed to lay in the cave behind the rock then after a little he would move around and lay there again. We left and came back home and now we can't find him in the tank..

Jason Hacker - 2009-05-21
I love this fish. Does very well in a established reef aquarium. Would recommend this fish to an advanced hobbyist.

WaltC. - 2012-01-18
I have a large sailfin tang in my tank with 7 Blue-Green Chromis, a Niger Trigger (added last), Ocellaris Clownfish, Blue Spotted Sandsifting Goby, Black Top Butterfly,and an Anemone in a 75 gal. with a couple of Soft Soral. I plan on getting a Lemon Peel Angelfish and a Kole Tang, will this combination work?

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Editor's Note - 2012-01-19
Sounds like a fun group! To answer your question, I would say no. This is why.... a Lemon Peel angelfish needs all the algae it can get that is naturally growing on your live rock. They also need some mysis and other meaty foods, but 70% to 80% of it's intake is the algae growing on live rock. Your Sailfin Tang, I am sure keeps your algae under control, and would irritate the Lemon Peel Angelfish to the point of aggression or starvation of the Lemon Peel. The Lemon Peel may also make short work of some of your corals.

Kole Tangs, IMO are a better choice since they will eat the detritus and some algae as well. A Kole Tang may be a victim of harassment in a 75 with a Sailfin Tang and a Lemon Peel in the same tank. Again,as for the Lemon Peel Angelfish, it is a gamble with your corals, but it may be okay, just that Centropyge really need the natural algae.

Hope that helps and maybe you can illuminate to us the reason for your interest in these two fish.

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Editor's Note - 2012-01-19
Sounds like a fun group! To answer your question, I would say no. This is why.... a Lemon Peel angelfish needs all the algae it can get that is naturally growing on your live rock. They also need some mysis and other meaty foods, but 70% to 80% of it's intake is the algae growing on live rock. Your Sailfin Tang, I am sure keeps your algae under control, and would irritate the Lemon Peel Angelfish to the point of aggression or starvation of the Lemon Peel. The Lemon Peel may also make short work of some of your corals.

Kole Tangs, IMO are a better choice since they will eat the detritus and some algae as well. A Kole Tang may be a victim of harassment in a 75 with a Sailfin Tang and a Lemon Peel in the same tank. Again,as for the Lemon Peel Angelfish, it is a gamble with your corals, but it may be okay, just that Centropyge really need the natural algae.

Hope that helps and maybe you can illuminate to us the reason for your interest in these two fish.

AndrewPeacock - 2010-05-25
Is it a good beginning fish?

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raeann - 2010-07-10
Yes.
kkee - 2010-11-29
Nnnnnnooooo!!!
Pete - 2011-06-18
Yes, in a well matured tank you shouldn't have too many problems.
Mike - 2012-03-09
In my opinion it is a good beginner fish. Just feed them the right stuff. I feed my two New Life Spectrum pellets and Omega marine flake everyday. I occassionally supplement with chopped scallop, chopped shrimp (remember to include the skin when chopping up the shrimp), mysis shrimp and dried seaweed. Both of mine even survived an ich outbreak in my tank. I also occassionally add liquid vitamins to the flake food before adding it to the tank. They also get along with other fish very easily. I have a fish only tank with about 12 different species in it.
James - 2012-04-28
NNNOOOOO!!!!!!
Jeremy Roche - 2012-04-28
Tangs are very sensitive to water conditions and can be picky eaters. They are not good for beginners unless you are extremely dedicated to your tank.

Tanya Severson - 2012-04-21
I have a pacific sailfin tang. It kept hitting itself into its tank wall. It was in a 55 gallon tank with a tiger queen anthias a triblal blenny a cleaner wrasse a royal gramma a yashia gobye a coral beauty angel a sunrise dotty a pistol shrimp and a cleaner shirmp and a black cucumber.
Why does the sailfin tang slam itself into the tank wall?

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Jeremy Roche - 2012-04-21
Tangs get stressed very easy. Anything new in the tank or environment that could be stressing him. Maybe turn the lights out and let it relax. check your water levels as well.

Sean - 2006-01-28
I have had a naso tang for 2-3 mounths in a six foot tank. It's doing excellent and this tang has become very well tamed and I can put my hand in a stroke it. The colors are beautiful. Also kept with xl ocean tang, maroon clown, 3 yellow tail damsels, male square anthius, elbi angel, snowflake moray and a zebra moray. All the fish get on perfectly well. Does tend to fade in color at night. Kept at temperatures of 75-78 degrees. All levels of tests are fine except nitrate, which is bit high. Sump has live rock and biorbs. The naso tends to like fast flowing water in the tank. I got that through a tunze streamline 6080 which does a brilliant job.

Paul - 2012-04-13
What is the difference between a Vlamingi and a blue spotted unicorn? how do you tell them apart when young.

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