Big Problem! Advice Please

[sianeds]

my baby Regal Tang went missing about half an hour ago. I found her wedged into a hole in my live rock.

After a bit of jiggling I got her out. She was very stressed tho and straight away went to hide.

My problem is that I only found her because she was in a top piece of live rock, if she'd been in one of the inside pieces she'd have died for sure.

Does anyone know why she would hide like that, she was not stressed by us and had been swimming happily all day.

Also is there anything I can do to help her heal as she has scraped her side on the rock.

 

[Lynden]

Unfortunately, rescue is necessary from time to time. Usually, once it happens to a fish, they will be left scarred but wiser. The Tang was very likely just playing around, and then got stuck. She will doubtedly risk being stuck again.

AP Melafix will clean up the wounds; it worked miracles with my Eibl's Angel.

-Lynden

 

[sianeds]

Thanks Lynden hunny, she's scarred herself I think cos she's out front again now

I think she's just being a curious baby

 

[maestro]

Thanks Lynden hunny, she's scarred herself I think cos she's out front again now

I think she's just being a curious baby

Baby regal tangs do seem to get themselves stuck, they just seem to be highly anxious fish, they seem to grow out of it though.

Best thing to do is just check the tank a couple of times a day to see if they are about.

 

[Lynden]

Best thing to do is just check the tank a couple of times a day to see if they are about

Probably the best thing to do. I'm glad that she's out again.

-Lynden

 

[sianeds]

Me too. I knew there must be a problem when she didn't come out for her food. Considering she's smaller than a 50p coin she gives my maroon clown a run for his money at feeding time.

I have never kept tangs before and just wanted to check if this behaviour is normal as we were thinking about putting her in the hospital tank until she grows a bit to stop her getting stuck again.

Apart from the problems to her health from getting stuck, I don't want to take my tank apart to find her or have her die and nuke my tank!

 

[Reefworks]

Wedging themselves in holes like that is a defence mechanism of some fish. It is most obvious in triggerfish where they will go into a hole and wedge themselves in with their dorsal spine which has a locking mechanism in it. It is almost impossible to get the fish out. Regal tangs also do this. It is normal behaviour for this fish but if it is hiding away continually then it is either stressed or unwell. Pulling it out of the hole could be stressfull enough to kill it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

 

[sianeds]

Luckily I didn't have to pull her out, I just lifted the rock and rotated it a bit so she could see the light and find her way out (and I did have to jiggle it a little too)

She seems ok now tho.

I can't understand what could have prompted her to hide though.

 

[SkiFletch]

Lots of Tangs hide when stressed, just how they cope I guess

 

[Mr.September15]

It propably got scared of something. Atleast that's what ostridge's do when they get scared. Except instead of a rock they hide there heads in the ground.

 

[l337dave]

It propably got scared of something. Atleast that's what ostridge's do when they get scared. Except instead of a rock they hide there heads in the ground.

pff ostrichs don't really do that

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrich

sorry I'm just a big one for all these myths, like the 3 kings at christmas and all that...





dave.

 

[sianeds]

She did it again in the early hours this morning so I just left her and stayed up so I could keep an eye on her.

She got out around 6am and has been fine since but she has some lovely scratches on both sides.

Am hoping she's just trying to find a safe place to sleep and given time she'll find her own spot and stop getting stuck

 

[maestro]

She did it again in the early hours this morning so I just left her and stayed up so I could keep an eye on her.

She got out around 6am and has been fine since but she has some lovely scratches on both sides.

Am hoping she's just trying to find a safe place to sleep and given time she'll find her own spot and stop getting stuck

Regals always wesge themselves in somewhere at night, its perfectly normal, the reefs arent a safe place at night so its a defence mechanism

 

[Ranger]

It propably got scared of something. Atleast that's what ostridge's do when they get scared. Except instead of a rock they hide there heads in the ground.

pff ostrichs don't really do that

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrich

sorry I'm just a big one for all these myths, like the 3 kings at christmas and all that...





dave.

Party pooper. I'd also like to point out that Wikipedia isn't exactly a reliable source all the time

 

[Betta5]

As with any baby, survival is the key to the next generation. They hide if they are scared. If she/he can get out and is not being harmed then i would leave it there. If she is, make a safe cave of something that only she can get into and feel safe. Is there any other fish that intimedate her.